Shloka 9
स विक्षरन् नाग इव प्रभिन्नो गदामस्मै तुमुले प्राहिणोद् वै । तयाहरद् दश धन्वन्तराणि दुःशासनं भीमसेन: प्रसहा,मदस्रावी गजराजके समान अपने घावोंसे रक्त बहाते हुए भीमसेनने उस तुमुल युद्धमें दुःशासनपर जो गदा चलायी थी, उसके द्वारा उन्होंने उसे बलपूर्वक दस धनुष (चालीस हाथ) पीछे हटा दिया
sa vikṣaran nāga iva prabhinnō gadām asmai tumule prāhiṇod vai | tayāharad daśa dhanvantarāṇi duḥśāsanaṃ bhīmasenaḥ prasahya ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Darah mengalir dari lukanya seperti gajah mengamuk yang mengalirkan musth, Bhīmasena melontar gada ke arah Duḥśāsana di tengah hiruk-pikuk pertempuran. Dipukul oleh hentaman itu, Duḥśāsana dipaksa berundur—ditundukkan dan ditolak sejauh sepuluh panjang busur.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: steadfastness under injury and the use of force to check an aggressor. Ethically, it frames battlefield violence as disciplined, goal-directed action within a dharmic war narrative—endurance, resolve, and the consequences of enmity carried to its climax.
In the Karṇa Parva battle, Bhīma—though bleeding—attacks Duḥśāsana with a mace. The blow is so powerful that Duḥśāsana is driven back ten bow-lengths, emphasizing Bhīma’s ferocity and strength amid the chaos of combat.