Shloka 22
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
समुद्यम्य गदां गुर्वी यमदण्डोपमां रणे
saṃudyamya gadāṃ gurvīṃ yamadaṇḍopamāṃ raṇe | śṛṅgadhārī kailāsaparvatopamāṃ gadām ūrdhvaṃ dhārayantaṃ bhīmasenaṃ dṛṣṭvā duryodhanaś cāśvatthāmā ca yugapat tam abhyadhāvatām ||
Sañjaya disse: Erguendo no campo de batalha a sua maça enorme—terrível como a vara de punição de Yama—Bhīmasena manteve-a levantada, como um Kailāsa de chifres. Ao vê-lo assim, Duryodhana e Aśvatthāman investiram contra ele juntos, de uma só vez.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral gravity of war: weapons are not merely tools but symbols of consequence. By likening Bhīma’s mace to Yama’s rod, the text evokes accountability and the inevitability of retribution that follows violent action, even when performed under kṣatriya duty.
Bhīma raises his heavy mace in a fearsome stance on the battlefield. Duryodhana and Aśvatthāmā, seeing him poised to strike, coordinate and rush together to engage him.