Shloka 61
पाण्डवानां महाराज व्यपाकर्षन्महागजान् । महाराज! तब महाबली भीमसेनने बड़े-बड़े हाथियोंको खींचकर हटाया और पाण्डवोंके लिये रथ जानेका मार्ग बनाया ।। ६० ह || अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वत:,इधर अअश्वत्थामा, कृपाचार्य और सात्वतवंशी कृतवर्मा--ये रथ-सेनामें आपके महारथी पुत्र शत्रुदमन राजा दुर्योधनको न देखकर उसकी खोज करने लगे
pāṇḍavānāṁ mahārāja vyapākarṣan mahāgajān | mahārāja! tataḥ mahābalī bhīmasenena baḍe-baḍe hāthiyoṁ ko khīṁcakara haṭāyā aura pāṇḍavoṁ ke liye ratha jāne kā mārga banāyā || aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvatāḥ, idhara aśvatthāmā, kṛpācārya aura sātvatavaṁśī kṛtavarmā—ye ratha-senā meṁ āpake mahārathī putra śatrudamana rājā duryodhana ko na dekhakara usakī khoja karane lage ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, the mighty Bhīmasena dragged away the great elephants that were obstructing the Pāṇḍavas, clearing a passage so their chariots could move forward. Meanwhile, Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarmā of the Sātvata line, not seeing your great chariot-warrior son—King Duryodhana, the subduer of foes—among the chariot forces, began searching for him.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights practical dharma on the battlefield: strength and initiative used in service of one’s side (Bhīma clearing a route for allies), and the responsibility of commanders to account for their leader (Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarmā searching for Duryodhana). It underscores that power is ethically framed by purpose—protecting and enabling one’s dependents in a moment of danger.
Bhīma physically removes obstructing elephants to open a chariot passage for the Pāṇḍavas. At the same time, key Kaurava warriors—Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarmā—do not see Duryodhana among the chariot troops and begin looking for him, suggesting confusion or a critical shift in the battle situation.