Shloka 31
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
अथाप्लुत्य रथात् तूर्ण दण्डपाणिरिवान्तक: । मतवाले हाथीके समान पराक्रमी बलवान् भीमसेन उन गजराजोंको आते देख तुरंत ही रथसे कूदकर हाथमें विशाल गदा लिये दण्डधारी यमराजके समान उनपर टूट पड़े ।। ३०३ || तमुद्यतगदं दृष्टवा पाण्डवानां महारथम्
athāplutya rathāt tūrṇaṃ daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ | matavāle hastike samāna-parākramaḥ balavān bhīmasenaḥ tān gajarājān āyānto dṛṣṭvā tūrṇam eva rathāt kūditvā haste viśālāṃ gadāṃ gṛhītvā daṇḍadhara-yamarāja iva teṣūpari nipapāta || tam udyata-gadaṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāratham ||
Sañjaya said: Then Bhīmasena—mighty in strength and prowess, like a rut-maddened elephant—leapt swiftly down from his chariot. Grasping a huge mace in his hand, he rushed upon those lordly elephants like Death himself bearing the rod of punishment. Seeing that great chariot-warrior of the Pāṇḍavas with mace upraised…
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: decisive action, fearlessness, and readiness to confront overwhelming force. The comparison to Yama with the punitive staff underscores the ethical idea of inevitable consequence—when adharma-driven violence advances, it meets a fitting counterforce.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma seeing powerful war-elephants advancing. Bhīma immediately leaps from his chariot, takes up a massive mace, and charges them, likened to Death (Yama/Antaka) rushing in with the rod of punishment. The next line begins: the opposing side sees him with mace raised.