Shloka 39
Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements
भीमसेनस्तु कौन्तेयो हत्वा युद्धे सुतांस्तव । मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं सफलं जन्म च प्रभो,प्रभो! इस प्रकार कुन्तीपुत्र भीमसेनने युद्धमें आपके पुत्रोंका विनाश करके अपने- आपको कृतार्थ और जन्मको सफल हुआ समझा
bhīmasenas tu kaunteyo hatvā yuddhe sutāṁs tava | mene kṛtārtham ātmānaṁ saphalaṁ janma ca prabho ||
Sanjaya said: Kunti’s son Bhimasena, having slain your sons in battle, considered himself fulfilled—his purpose accomplished and his very birth made fruitful, O king. The line underscores the grim ethic of kṣatriya warfare: personal vows and clan-duty are taken as “success,” even when achieved through fratricidal destruction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a harsh epic tension: in kṣatriya ethics, the completion of a warrior’s vow and duty can be viewed as ‘success,’ yet that success is inseparable from catastrophic loss. It invites reflection on how dharma in war can validate actions that remain morally tragic.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Bhima, after killing Dhritarashtra’s sons in the battle, felt his mission accomplished and his life’s purpose fulfilled—an emotional and ethical climax tied to Bhima’s long-standing enmity and vows against the Kauravas.