Shloka 296
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
शार्टूलाविव चान्योन्यमामिषार्थेड भ्यगर्जताम् । महाराज! भीमसेनने कर्णके बाणोंको काटकर सिंहके समान गर्जना की। वे दोनों बलवान् वीर कभी गायके लिये लड़नेवाले दो साँड़ोंके समान हँकड़ते और कभी मांसके लिये परस्पर जूझनेवाले दो सिंहोंके समान दहाड़ते थे
śārṭūlāv iva cānyonyam āmiṣārthe ’bhyagarjatām | mahārāja! bhīmasenena karṇake bāṇān kāṭayitvā siṁhasamā garjanā kṛtā | tau ubhau balavantau vīrau kadācit gāvaḥ kṛte yudhyamānau dvau vṛṣabhāv iva huṅkṛtavantau, kadācit ca māṁsārthaṁ parasparaṁ yujhyamānau dvau siṁhāv iva nādavantau ||
サンジャヤは言った。「獲物をめぐって互いに吼え立てる二頭の虎のように、彼らは相手を挑む咆哮を交わした。大王よ、ビーマセーナはカルナの矢を断ち切り、獅子のごとく吼えた。二人の剛勇は、ある時は雌牛を争う二頭の牡牛のように突き合い、またある時は肉を奪い合って組み合う二頭の獅子のように咆哮した。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war amplifies possessiveness and predatory impulses (prey, flesh, possession), yet true martial excellence is shown through controlled power—here, Bhīma’s dominance is expressed by neutralizing Karṇa’s arrows and asserting courage without immediately resorting to indiscriminate slaughter.
Sañjaya describes the duel’s intensity: Bhīma cuts down Karṇa’s incoming arrows and roars like a lion. Both warriors then exchange terrifying cries, compared to tigers over prey, bulls fighting over a cow, and lions battling for meat—signaling a climactic escalation in their confrontation.