Shloka 73
दृष्टवा भीमस्य विक्रान्तमन्तकस्य प्रजास्विव । महाराज! जैसे प्रजावर्गपर यमराजका बल काम करता है, उसी प्रकार भीमसेनका वह पराक्रम देखकर कर्णके मनमें महान् भय समा गया
dṛṣṭvā bhīmasya vikrāntam antakasya prajāsvi iva | mahārāja! yathā prajā-varga-pari yamarājasya balaṁ kāmaṁ karoti, tathā bhīmasenasya tat parākramaṁ dṛṣṭvā karṇasya manasi mahān bhayaḥ samāviśat |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja Agung, tatkala Karṇa menyaksikan kegagahan Bhīma yang garang—laksana kuasa Antaka/Yama, Dewa Maut, yang pasti menimpa segala makhluk—maka ketakutan yang besar pun menyelinap masuk ke dalam hatinya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inevitability of death and fate (symbolized by Yama/Antaka) and shows that even celebrated warriors can be inwardly shaken. Ethically, it frames martial prowess as something that can resemble an impersonal cosmic force—reminding readers of human vulnerability amid the duties and terrors of war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa, seeing Bhīma’s overwhelming combat prowess, becomes deeply afraid. Bhīma’s force is compared to Yama’s power over living beings, emphasizing how formidable Bhīma appears at this moment in the battle.