Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 63
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
राजन! रणभूमिमें उस गदाकी चोट खाकर भीमसेनके मस्तकसे रक्तकी धारा बह चली और वे मदकी धारा बहानेवाले गजराजके समान अधिक शोभा पाने लगे ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
rājan raṇabhūmau tasya gadā-prahāreṇa bhīmasenasya mastakāt raktadhārā prasasāra, sa ca mada-dhārā-prasravaṇa-gajarāja iva bhūyo 'pi śobhām avāpa ||
tato gadāṃ vīrahaṇīm ayomayīṃ pragṛhya vajrāśani-tulya-niḥsvanām |
atāḍayac chatrum amitra-karṣaṇo balena vikramya dhanañjayāgrajaḥ ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ರಾಜನೇ, ರಣಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಗದಾಪ್ರಹಾರದಿಂದ ಭೀಮಸೇನನ ತಲೆಯಿಂದ ರಕ್ತಧಾರೆ ಹರಿಯತೊಡಗಿತು; ಆದರೂ ಮದಧಾರೆ ಸುರಿಸುವ ಗಜರಾಜನಂತೆ ಅವನು ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಕಂಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು. ನಂತರ ಧನಂಜಯನ ಅಣ್ಣ, ಶತ್ರುಸೂದನ ಭೀಮಸೇನನು ಬಲದಿಂದ ಪರಾಕ್ರಮ ತೋರಿಸಿ, ವಜ್ರ-ಅಶನಿಯಂತೆ ಘೋರ ನಾದ ಮಾಡುವ, ವೀರಹಂತಕವಾದ ಕಬ್ಬಿಣದ ಗದೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ತನ್ನ ಶತ್ರುವನ್ನು ಹೊಡೆದನು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and resolve under suffering: even wounded, Bhima’s presence and determination intensify. Ethically, it reflects the harsh reality of kshatriya-duty in war—courage and endurance are praised, while the narrative also implicitly reminds us of the heavy cost of violence.
On the battlefield Bhima is struck by a mace and bleeds from the head, yet appears even more formidable. Immediately afterward he seizes a heavy iron mace, described as thunderbolt-like in sound and hero-destroying in power, and strikes his enemy with renewed force.
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