Shloka 1
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ४ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ४६ श्लोक हैं) अपन बछ। है २ >> पञ्चपज्चाशत्तमो< ध्याय: अश्वत्थामाका घोर युद्ध
sañjaya uvāca |
bhīmasenaṃ sapāñcālyaṃ cedikekayasaṃvṛtam |
vaikartanaḥ svayaṃ ruddhvā vārayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ! വൈകർത്തനൻ കർണ്ണൻ സ്വയം വഴി തടഞ്ഞു, പാഞ്ചാലരോടുകൂടി ചേതി-ഏകകയന്മാർ ചുറ്റിയ ഭീമസേനനെ അമ്പുവർഷംകൊണ്ട് തടഞ്ഞുനിർത്തി।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata ethic of kṣatriya warfare: champions deliberately intercept key opponents to protect their side and control the battle’s flow. It also reflects the tragic tension between duty (fighting as required by one’s role) and the escalating violence that eclipses conciliatory dharma.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa personally blocks Bhīma, who advances with allied troops (Pāñcālas, Cedis, Ekakayas). Karṇa restrains him by showering arrows, initiating or intensifying a direct confrontation amid the larger battlefield movements.