Shloka 53
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
समाललनम्बे तेजस्वी ध्वजं हेमपरिष्कृतम् । महाराज! उस बाणके द्वारा दुर्योधनने भीमसेनकी छातीपर गहरी चोट पहुँचायी। उससे अत्यन्त घायल होकर तेजस्वी भीमसेन व्यथित हो उठे और मुहके दोनों कोनोंको चाटते हुए उन्होंने अपने सुवर्णभूषित ध्वजका सहारा ले लिया
sañjaya uvāca | samālalambhe tejasvī dhvajaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam | mahārāja! tena bāṇena duryodhanena bhīmasenasya vakṣasi gāḍhā kṣatiḥ kṛtā | tena atīva viddhaḥ tejasvī bhīmasenaḥ vyathito ’bhavat, mukhasya ubhayakoṇau lelihan saḥ sva-suvarṇabhūṣita-dhvajam ālambata |
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, dengan anak panah itu Duryodhana telah menghentam dada Bhimasena dengan kuat, menyebabkan luka yang dalam. Tercedera parah, Bhima yang bersinar itu tergoncang oleh kesakitan; sambil menjilat kedua hujung bibirnya dalam tekad yang garang, dia meneguhkan diri dengan bersandar pada panji-panjinya yang berhias emas.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya endurance and resolve in battle: even when grievously wounded, a warrior steadies himself and continues his duty. It also illustrates how inner agitation (licking the mouth-corners) can coexist with disciplined persistence rather than collapse.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Duryodhana shoots Bhima with a powerful arrow, wounding him deeply in the chest. Bhima, in pain yet still formidable, shows fierce determination and supports himself by grasping his gold-ornamented chariot-banner.