Shloka 53
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
समाललनम्बे तेजस्वी ध्वजं हेमपरिष्कृतम् । महाराज! उस बाणके द्वारा दुर्योधनने भीमसेनकी छातीपर गहरी चोट पहुँचायी। उससे अत्यन्त घायल होकर तेजस्वी भीमसेन व्यथित हो उठे और मुहके दोनों कोनोंको चाटते हुए उन्होंने अपने सुवर्णभूषित ध्वजका सहारा ले लिया
sañjaya uvāca | samālalambhe tejasvī dhvajaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam | mahārāja! tena bāṇena duryodhanena bhīmasenasya vakṣasi gāḍhā kṣatiḥ kṛtā | tena atīva viddhaḥ tejasvī bhīmasenaḥ vyathito ’bhavat, mukhasya ubhayakoṇau lelihan saḥ sva-suvarṇabhūṣita-dhvajam ālambata |
Sañjaya disse: “Ó rei, com aquela flecha Duryodhana atingiu Bhimasena com força no peito, abrindo-lhe uma ferida profunda. Gravemente ferido, o radiante Bhima estremeceu de dor; lambendo os cantos da boca com feroz determinação, firmou-se apoiando-se em seu estandarte adornado de ouro.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya endurance and resolve in battle: even when grievously wounded, a warrior steadies himself and continues his duty. It also illustrates how inner agitation (licking the mouth-corners) can coexist with disciplined persistence rather than collapse.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Duryodhana shoots Bhima with a powerful arrow, wounding him deeply in the chest. Bhima, in pain yet still formidable, shows fierce determination and supports himself by grasping his gold-ornamented chariot-banner.