Shloka 36
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
अथ कार्मुकमादाय भीमो जलदनि:स्वनम् | रिपोरभ्यर्दयन्नागमुन्नदन् पाण्डव: शरै:,तत्पश्चात् गर्जते हुए पाण्डुपुत्र भीमसेनने मेघ-गर्जनाके समान गम्भीर घोष करनेवाले धनुषको लेकर अपने बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुके हाथीको पीड़ित कर दिया त॑ निहत्य रणे शूर: शैनेयो रथसत्तम:
atha kārmukam ādāya bhīmo jalada-niḥsvanam | ripor abhyardayann āgam unnadan pāṇḍavaḥ śaraiḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ଭୀମସେନ ମେଘଗର୍ଜନା ସଦୃଶ ଗମ୍ଭୀର ନାଦ କରୁଥିବା ଧନୁଷ ଧରିଲେ। ଗର୍ଜନ କରି କରି ସେ ବାଣବର୍ଷାରେ ଶତ୍ରୁର ହାତୀକୁ ପୀଡ଼ିତ କଲେ; ରଣମଧ୍ୟରେ କ୍ରୋଧିତ ଭୀମଙ୍କ ଶରବର୍ଷ ଅବିରତ ରହିଲା।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: disciplined, forceful action aimed at disabling the opponent’s combat power. The ethical frame is not personal cruelty but the grim necessity of war, where strategic targets (like war-elephants) are neutralized to protect one’s side.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma seizing his thunderous-sounding bow, roaring, and striking the enemy’s elephant with arrows, causing it intense distress—an escalation in the combat scene emphasizing Bhīma’s ferocity and momentum.