Shloka 47
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
विरथं सहसा कृत्वा भीमसेनमथाहसत् । सहदेवं च निर्जित्य शरै: संनतपर्वभि:
virathaṃ sahasā kṛtvā bhīmasenam athāhasat | sahadevaṃ ca nirjitya śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。彼はたちまちビーマセーナを戦車なき身とし、そのうえで笑った。さらに、継ぎ目の堅固な矢でサハデーヴァをも打ち破り、攻めの手を緩めず前へと押し進めた。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata tension: battlefield success can tempt a warrior toward mockery and humiliation of the fallen. It implicitly raises the ethical question of restraint—whether victory should be accompanied by dignity rather than contempt—especially when opponents are rendered helpless (e.g., made chariotless).
In the course of the battle narration, a warrior (contextually, an opposing champion) suddenly makes Bhīma chariotless and laughs in triumph; he then also overcomes Sahadeva using well-made arrows, indicating a swift sequence of tactical dominance over two Pāṇḍava fighters.