Shloka 63
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
महाशनिर्यथा भ्रष्टा शक्रमुक्ता नभोगता । उन वेगवान् नरेशने उक्त बाणके द्वारा उस महान् त्रिशूलको काट डाला। वह सुवर्णभूषित त्रिशूल दो टुकड़ोंमें कटकर ऊपरकी ओर उछला। उस समय वह इन्द्रके हाथसे छूटकर आकाशशसे गिरते हुए महान् वज़्के समान सुशोभित हुआ || ६२ ह ।।
mahāśanir yathā bhraṣṭā śakramuktā nabhogatā | śūlaṁ nipatitaṁ dṛṣṭvā dvidhā kṛttaṁ ca pārthivaḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: Seperti halilintar besar yang dilepaskan Indra jatuh dari langit, demikianlah trisula itu—terbelah dua—jatuh dan berkilau. Melihat trisula itu terkerat dua dan rebah, Raja Bhagadatta menggenggam senjata śakti yang besar, berselubung api dan berhulu emas, lalu melemparkannya ke arah musuh sambil berseru, “Berdiri! Berdiri!”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the kṣatriya code in war: when one weapon fails, the warrior does not collapse into despair but responds with resolve and readiness. Ethically, it also shows how battle can rapidly escalate through ever more destructive weapons, underscoring the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between valor and the tragic cost of violence.
Sañjaya describes a trident being cut into two and falling like Indra’s thunderbolt. Seeing this, King Bhagadatta takes up a blazing śakti-weapon with a golden shaft and hurls it at his opponent, challenging him with the cry “Stand! Stand!”