Shloka 84
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
सप्तसप्त च नागांस्तान् वैजयन्तीश्व॒ सध्वजा: । निहत्य निशितैर्बाणैश्छिन्ना: पार्थाग्रजेन ते,'पार्थ! तुम्हारे बड़े भाई भीमसेनने अपने पैने बाणोंसे ध्वजसहित वैजयन्ती पताकाओंको नष्ट करके उनचास हाथियोंको काट गिराया है
sapta-sapta ca nāgāṁs tān vaijayantīś ca dhvajāḥ | nihatya niśitair bāṇaiś chinnāḥ pārthāgrajena te |
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan anak panah yang tajam, abang Pārtha telah menumbangkan gajah-gajah itu—tujuh kali tujuh bilangannya—serta menebas panji vaijayantī dan tunggul berpanji mereka. Dengan bendera-bendera terpenggal, gajah-gajah itu rebah di medan perang, memperlihatkan kedahsyatan Bhīmasena yang mengatasi lambang-lambang kebanggaan musuh.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: decisive action against formidable forces, and the symbolic breaking of the enemy’s pride by cutting down their victory-banners. It underscores how martial excellence is portrayed as duty-bound strength within the epic’s war ethic.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīmasena—identified as Arjuna’s elder brother—uses sharp arrows to bring down forty-nine war-elephants and to sever their vaijayantī banners and standards, indicating a major tactical and morale-shattering feat.