Shloka 103
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
अथीैनं तत्र संलीनमस्पृशद् धनुषा पुनः । प्रहसंश्व॒ पुनर्वाक्यं भीममाह वृषस्तदा,तत्पश्चात् वहाँ छिपे हुए भीमसेनका कर्णने पुनः धनुषसे स्पर्श किया और उस समय उनका उपहास करते हुए फिर कहा--
athainaṃ tatra saṃlīnam aspṛśad dhanuṣā punaḥ | prahaṃś ca punaḥ vākyaṃ bhīmam āha vṛṣas tadā ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— “ನಂತರ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಗಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಭೀಮಸೇನನನ್ನು ಕರ್ಣನು ಮತ್ತೆ ತನ್ನ ಧನುಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶಿಸಿದನು; ಆಗ ಹಾಸ್ಯ-ಉಪಹಾಸದಿಂದ ವೃಷ (ಕರ್ಣ) ಭೀಮನಿಗೆ ಪುನಃ ಕಟುವಾದ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿದನು.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ridicule and psychological aggression accompany physical violence in war, raising ethical questions about kṣatriya conduct: victory pursued through taunts and humiliation can degrade dharma even when martial skill is present.
Bhīma is described as concealed or lying low; Karṇa approaches, touches him again with his bow (a gesture of dominance and provocation), and then speaks to him mockingly, escalating the confrontation through derisive speech.