Shloka 26
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
विमुखं हतसूतं त॑ भीम: प्रहरतां वर: । जघान तलयुक्तेन प्रासेनाभ्येत्य पाण्डव:,सारथिके नष्ट हो जानेसे कोटिकास्यको रणसे विमुख हुआ देख योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ पाण्डुनन्दन भीमसेनने उसके पास जाकर प्रास नामक मूठदार शणस्त्रसे उसे मार डाला
vimukhaṁ hatasūtaṁ taṁ bhīmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ | jaghāna talayuktena prāsena abhyetya pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing him turn away from the fight after his charioteer had been slain, Bhīma—foremost among those who strike—advanced upon him and killed him with a prāsa, a spear fitted with a handle. The episode underscores the relentless logic of battlefield dharma: once a warrior breaks formation and becomes vulnerable through the loss of his driver, the opposing champion presses the advantage to end the threat decisively.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh but accepted logic of kṣatriya warfare: when an opponent becomes exposed—here by losing his charioteer and turning away—an accomplished warrior may press the advantage to neutralize danger swiftly, prioritizing decisive action over hesitation.
After the enemy’s charioteer is killed, the warrior turns away from the battle. Bhīma approaches and kills him using a prāsa (a handled spear/javelin), as narrated by Vaiśampāyana.