Shloka 24
Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements
ततो<न्यद् धनुरादाय भीमसेनो महाबल: । अवाकिरत् तव सुतं तिष्ठ तिछेति चाब्रवीत्,तब महाबली भीमसेन दूसरा धनुष लेकर आपके पुत्रपर बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगे और बोले--'खड़ा रह, खड़ा रह”
tato 'nyad dhanur ādāya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | avākirat tava sutaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt |
Sañjaya said: Then Bhīmasena, mighty in strength, took up another bow and showered your son with arrows, calling out, “Stand firm—stand firm!” In the harsh ethic of battlefield duty, the taunt is not mere cruelty but a warrior’s challenge meant to break the opponent’s resolve and force a decisive confrontation.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya code in war: courage and steadfastness are demanded even amid mortal danger. Bhīma’s command ‘Stand firm’ functions as a test of resolve and a push toward a decisive, face-to-face contest rather than evasive fighting.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma switches to another bow and unleashes a dense volley of arrows at Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son, while verbally challenging him to hold his ground. It marks an escalation in the duel’s intensity and aims to overwhelm both body and morale.