Shloka 73
Droṇa Encircled at Night: Coalition Advance and Battlefield Omens (द्रोणपर्यावरणं रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
विव्याध समरे राजन् कौरवेयान् समन्तत: । वध्यमाना महाराज भीमसेनेन तावका:,तलशब्दं च सुमहत् कृत्वा भीमो महाबल: बड़े जोरसे ताली बजाकर महाबली भीमने रथसेनाको डरा दिया और श्रेष्ठ- श्रेष्ठ योद्धाओंको चुन-चुनकर मारा। फिर समस्त रथियोंको लाँधचकर द्रोणाचार्यकी सेनापर धावा बोल दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
vivyādha samare rājan kauraveyān samantataḥ |
vadhyamānā mahārāja bhīmasenena tāvakāḥ |
talaśabdaṃ ca sumahat kṛtvā bhīmo mahābalaḥ |
サンジャヤは言った。「王よ、戦のただ中でビーマはクル族の戦士たちを四方から突き崩した。大王よ、あなたの軍勢はビーマセーナに斬り伏せられていた。すると剛力のビーマは轟くほどに手を打ち鳴らし、戦車の大軍に恐怖を走らせた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the ethics of kṣatriya warfare, victory depends not only on weapons but also on morale: a warrior’s display of fearless strength can break an opposing force. It also implicitly warns that once war is embraced, even those who claim dharma may be swept into escalating violence and fear.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma is striking down Kaurava fighters on all sides; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s troops are being slain. Bhīma then makes a thunderous clapping sound, intensifying panic and disorder among the Kaurava chariot-warriors.