Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 23
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
दुर्मर्षणो विकर्णश्व॒ सिन्धुराजश्व वीर्यवान् । भीम॑ ते विव्यधुस्तूर्ण शल्यहेतोररिंदमा:
sañjaya uvāca |
durmarṣaṇo vikarṇaś ca sindhurājaś ca vīryavān |
bhīmaṃ te vivyadhus tūrṇaṃ śalya-hetor ariṃdamāḥ ||
त्यानंतर दुर्मर्षण, विकर्ण आणि पराक्रमी सिन्धुराज (जयद्रथ)—हे शत्रुदमन करणारे वीर शल्याच्या हेतुने त्वरित भीमाला भेदू लागले.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic of collective responsibility: warriors set aside individual contests to defend a vulnerable ally (Śalya). It reflects kṣatriya-dharma as loyalty to one’s side and tactical protection of key fighters, even when the opponent is formidable like Bhīma.
Sañjaya reports that Durmarṣaṇa, Vikarna, and Jayadratha (Sindhurāja) quickly attack and wound Bhīma, specifically to safeguard Śalya amid the fighting.
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