Shloka 1
संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! वृषसेनने नकुलके धनुष और तलवारको काट दिया है, वे रथहीन हो गये हैं, शत्रुके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हैं तथा कर्णके पुत्रने अपने अस्त्रोंद्वारा उन्हें पराजित कर दिया है, यह जानकर श्रेष्ठ पुरुष भीमसेनके आदेशसे हाथोंमें अस्त्र-शस्त्र लिये शत्रुओंका सामना करनेमें समर्थ ट्रुपदके पाँच श्रेष्ठ पुत्र, छठे सात्यकि तथा द्रौपदीके पाँच पुत्र--ये ग्यारह वीर आपके पक्षके हाथी, घोड़े, रथ और पैदल सैनिकोंका अपने सर्पतुल्य बाणोंद्वारा संहार करते हुए रथोंद्वारा वहाँ शीघ्रतापूर्वक आ पहुँचे। उस समय उनके रथकी पताकाएँ वायुके वेगसे फहरा रही थीं। उनके घोड़े उछलते हुए आ रहे थे और वे सब-के- सब जोर-जोरसे गर्जना कर रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca—mahārāja! vṛṣasenena nakulasya dhanuḥ khaḍgaṃ ca chittvā taṃ rathahīnaṃ kṛtavān; śatrubāṇapīḍitaṃ ca karṇaputreṇa svāstrabalena parājitaṃ jñātvā, śreṣṭhapuruṣa-bhīmasenasyājñayā hastāyudhāḥ śatrūn prati samarthāḥ—drupadasya pañca śreṣṭhaputrāḥ, ṣaṣṭhaḥ sātyakiḥ, draupadyāḥ pañca putrāś ca—ete ekādaśa vīrāḥ, tava pakṣasya gaja-aśva-ratha-pādātān sarpavat-tulyaiḥ śaraiḥ saṃharantaḥ rathaiḥ tatra śīghram upāyayuḥ. tadā teṣāṃ rathadhvajā vāyuvegena phalanti sma; teṣāṃ hayā uccalantaḥ samāyānti sma; sarve ca mahāsvanena nādantaḥ sma.
Sanjaya said: “O King, Vṛṣasena has cut down Nakula’s bow and sword, leaving him without a chariot and tormented by the enemy’s arrows; and the son of Karṇa has overcome him by the force of his weapons. Knowing this, and acting on the command of the foremost man Bhīmasena, eleven heroes—Drupada’s five best sons, Sātyaki as the sixth, and Draupadī’s five sons—came swiftly to that place in their chariots, fully armed and able to face the foe. As they advanced, they slaughtered your side’s elephants, horses, charioteers, and foot-soldiers with serpent-like shafts. Their chariot-banners streamed in the wind’s rush, their horses leapt forward, and all of them roared aloud.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-ethics in war: when an ally is overwhelmed, leaders must respond swiftly with coordinated support. Courage is paired with responsibility—protecting one’s side and restoring balance on the battlefield rather than abandoning a comrade in distress.
Vṛṣasena, Karṇa’s son, has disabled Nakula by cutting his weapons and leaving him chariotless. On learning this, Bhīma orders a rapid counter-move: eleven Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors (Drupada’s five sons, Sātyaki, and Draupadī’s five sons) rush in chariots, cutting down Kaurava forces as they arrive with banners flying and battle-cries resounding.