Shloka 36
तमभ्याशगत प्राज्ञो रणे प्रेक्ष्य वृकोदर: । अवाक्षिपद् गदां तस्मिन् वेगेन महता बली,रणभूमिमें उसे निकट आया देख बुद्धिमान् एवं बलवान् भीमने उसपर बड़े वेगसे गदा चलायी
tam abhyāśagataḥ prājño raṇe prekṣya vṛkodaraḥ | avākṣipad gadāṃ tasmin vevena mahatā balī ||
Seeing him come close on the battlefield, the wise Vṛkodara (Bhīma), mighty in strength, hurled his mace at that opponent with tremendous speed—an act that reflects the grim immediacy of kṣatriya combat where resolve and discernment must operate under the pressure of lethal duty.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, the epic frames ideal action as requiring prajñā (discernment) alongside strength: power is not praised by itself, but as guided by alert judgment and the warrior’s duty within the battlefield context.
As an opponent closes in, Bhīma (Vṛkodara), described as both wise and mighty, responds immediately by hurling his mace at him with great speed, intensifying the close-quarters combat scene.