Shloka 26
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
भारद्वाजमुखा: सर्वे भीमसेनजिघांसया । नानाविधानि शस्त्राणि भीमस्योरस्पपातयन्,ट्रोणाचार्य आदि सभी योद्धा भीमसेनके वधकी इच्छासे उनकी छातीपर नाना प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका प्रहार करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | bhāradvājamukhāḥ sarve bhīmasenajighāṃsayā | nānāvidhāni śastrāṇi bhīmasyorasi apātayan |
Sañjaya berkata: Dipimpin oleh Droṇa, semua pahlawan itu, dengan niat membunuh Bhīmasena, menurunkan pelbagai senjata ke atas dada Bhīma bagaikan hujan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, intention (jighāṃsā—desire to kill) drives action: even skilled warriors can become instruments of collective lethal purpose. Ethically, it points to the tension between kṣatriya duty in battle and the hardening of the heart that comes with single-minded violence.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa and the other warriors, aiming to slay Bhīma, launch a concentrated barrage of diverse weapons at his chest—an attempt to neutralize a pivotal Pandava fighter through coordinated assault.