Shloka 11
Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ
Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors
तथा तु विप्रकुर्वाणं रथयूथपयूथपम् । भारद्वाजो महाराज भीमसेनं समभ्ययात्,महाराज! रथयूथपतियोंके भी यूथपति भीमसेनको इस प्रकार सेनाका संहार करते देख द्रोणाचार्य उनका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़े
tathā tu viprakurvāṇaṃ rathayūthapayūthapam | bhāradvājo mahārāja bhīmasenaṃ samabhyayāt ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, melihat Bhīmasena—seorang pemimpin di antara para pemimpin skuadron kereta perang—sedang mengamuk memusnahkan bala tentera demikian rupa, Droṇa putera Bharadvāja pun mara untuk menentangnya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: extraordinary power and battlefield success inevitably draw counterforce. It also underscores kshatriya-dharma in practice—commanders must respond to threats to their side, even when the response escalates violence.
Bhima is slaughtering the opposing forces so effectively that he is described as a foremost leader among chariot-commanders. Seeing this devastation, Drona advances to meet Bhima directly, signaling a major confrontation between two principal warriors.