Shloka 186
Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
अर्जुनं भीमसेनं च निहन्ताराविति ध्रुवम् “मेरे मनमें यह विश्वास था कि “महारथी भीष्म और द्रोणाचार्य अर्जुन और भीमसेनको अवश्य ही मार डालेंगे
arjunaṃ bhīmasenaṃ ca nihantārāv iti dhruvam
എന്റെ മനസ്സിൽ ദൃഢമായ വിശ്വാസമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു— മഹാരഥികളായ ഭീഷ്മനും ദ്രോണാചാര്യനും അർജുനനെയും ഭീമസേനനെയും തീർച്ചയായും വധിക്കും എന്ന്।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethical complexity of dharma in war: revered elders like Bhishma and Drona, though personally noble, may be compelled by loyalty and obligation to attempt the destruction of those who stand for a different claim to righteousness.
Sanjaya reports a strong expectation—held in his mind—that Bhishma and Drona, famed as maha-rathas, would certainly kill Arjuna and Bhima. It conveys the perceived imbalance of power and the dread surrounding the Pandavas’ survival.