Shloka 2
Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ
Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors
पिबन्निव शरौघांस्तान् द्रोणचापपरिच्युतान् । सो<भ्यद्रवत सोदर्यान् मोहयन् बलमायया,द्रोणाचार्यके धनुषसे छूटे हुए उन बाणोंको पीते हुए-से भीमसेन अपने बलकी मायासे समस्त कौरव बन्धुओंको मोहित करते हुए उनपर टूट पड़े
sañjaya uvāca | pibann iva śaraughāṁs tān droṇacāpaparicyutān | so 'bhyadravat sodaryān mohayan balamāyayā ||
Sañjaya berkata: Seolah-olah meneguk hujan anak panah yang lebat itu—yang dilepaskan dari busur Droṇa—Bhīmasena menerjang ke atas kaum kerabatnya sendiri. Dengan kedahsyatan kepahlawanannya, bagaikan suatu maya yang mengelirukan, dia mengacaukan bala Kaurava lalu menyerbu mereka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral landscape of war: even against one’s own kin, a warrior acts under the imperative of kṣatriya-dharma. It also suggests that true prowess can appear ‘māyā-like’—overwhelming and disorienting to opponents—showing how strength and strategy shape outcomes in righteous conflict.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma rushing at his kinsmen amid a heavy barrage of arrows shot from Droṇa’s bow. Bhīma endures the arrow-storm as if it were nothing and, through overpowering force and tactical intimidation, throws the Kaurava ranks into confusion while charging them.