Shloka 22
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
नानानृपसुतान् वीरान् सैन्यानि विविधानि च । अलातचक्रवत् सर्व चरन् बाणैरतर्पयत्
nānānṛpasutān vīrān sainyāni vividhāni ca | alātacakravat sarvaṁ caran bāṇair atarpayat ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Bergerak ke mana-mana laksana obor berapi yang berpusing, dia “memuaskan” dengan anak panah ramai putera raja yang gagah serta pelbagai pasukan mereka—menyerang dari segala sisi dan menekan pertempuran tanpa henti.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the alātacakra (whirling firebrand) simile to show how martial skill, when unleashed in war, becomes all-pervading and hard to escape—highlighting both the awe of valor and the ethical weight of widespread harm caused in battle.
Vaiśampāyana describes a warrior ranging across the battlefield, rapidly striking many princes and their assorted troops with volleys of arrows, as if circling like a spinning firebrand and hitting opponents on all sides.