Shloka 2
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
चरन्तं गदया वीरं दण्डहस्तमिवान्तकम् । योधयामास समरे कालिड्र: सह सेनया,वीरवर भीमसेन जब गदा हाथमें लेकर विचरते हैं, तब दण्डधारी यमराजके समान जान पड़ते हैं। उनके साथ समरांगणमें सेनासहित कलिंगराजने किस प्रकार युद्ध किया?
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
carantaṁ gadayā vīraṁ daṇḍahastam ivāntakam |
yodhayāmāsa samare kāliṅgaḥ saha senayā ||
धृतराष्ट्र म्हणाले—गदा हातात घेऊन रणांगणात विचरणारा वीर भीमसेन दंडधारी यमासारखा भासतो. त्या युद्धात कलिंगराजाने आपल्या सैन्यासह त्याच्याशी कसा संग्राम केला?
ध्ृतराष्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the awe-inspiring force of righteous martial power: Bhīma’s presence is likened to Yama, suggesting that in war the consequences of adharma and the inevitability of death become immediate. It also reflects the epic’s ethical tension—valor and duty (kṣatriya-dharma) operate within a field of grave moral stakes.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya to describe how the Kaliṅga king, supported by his army, fought against Bhīmasena, who is depicted as roaming the battlefield with a mace and appearing like Death personified.