Shloka 43
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तस्य भीमोडपि द्विरदं गदया समपोथयत् | तस्मात् प्रमथिताजन्नागात् क्षेमधूर्तिमवप्लुतम्
tasya bhīmo 'pi dviradaṃ gadayā samapothayat | tasmāt pramathitāj jannāgāt kṣemadhūrtim avaplutam |
Sañjaya berkata: Bhīma juga menumbangkan gajahnya dengan gada. Lalu Kṣemadhūrti, tergoncang dan terpaksa meninggalkan tunggangannya, melompat turun dan mara ke hadapan. Ketika dia maju dengan pedang di tangan, Bhīmasena sekali lagi menghentamnya dengan gada; rebah oleh pukulan itu, nyawanya pun terputus, dan dia runtuh di sisi gajahnya, masih menggenggam pedang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh logic of battlefield dharma: when combat is joined, hesitation can be fatal, and a warrior’s duty is to neutralize immediate threats decisively. It also reflects the impermanence of martial power—mount, weapon, and life can be lost in an instant.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma smashes Kṣemadhūrti’s elephant with his mace. Kṣemadhūrti dismounts and advances with a sword, but Bhīma strikes him again with the mace, killing him; he falls near his elephant with the sword still in hand.