Shloka 80
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
संनिवार्य स तां घोरां शरवृष्टिं समुत्थिताम् । गदामादाय तरसा संनिपत्य महाबल:,प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् वहाँ होती हुई उस भयंकर बाण-वर्षाको रोककर महाबली भीमसेन हाथमें गदा ले बड़े वेगसे कलिंग-सेनामें कूद पड़े। उस सेनामें घुसकर शत्रुमर्दन भीमने पहले सात सौ वीरोंको यमलोक पहुँचाया। फिर दो हजार कलिंगोंको मृत्युके लोकमें भेज दिया। यह अद्भुत-सी घटना हुई
saṃnivārya sa tāṃ ghorāṃ śaravṛṣṭiṃ samutthitām | gadām ādāya tarasā saṃnipatya mahābalaḥ prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Disse Sañjaya: Tendo contido aquela terrível e crescente chuva de flechas, o poderosíssimo Bhīmasena tomou sua maça e, com ímpeto veloz, lançou-se para dentro das fileiras de Kalinga. Ao penetrar no exército, enviou multidões de guerreiros ao reino da Morte—uma reviravolta assombrosa na batalha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of righteous warfare (kṣatriya-dharma): a warrior may be compelled to use overwhelming force to protect his side and break enemy momentum, while the narrative openly recognizes the grave human cost as lives are sent to Mṛtyuloka.
Bhīma withstands and checks a fierce rain of arrows, takes up his mace, charges into the Kalinga formation, and slaughters many warriors—an action described as astonishing in its impact on the battle.