Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
ततो भास्करवर्णाभमञ्जोगतिमयस्मयम् । ससर्ज तोमरं भीम: प्रत्यमित्राय यत्नवान्,तब भीमसेनने सूर्यके समान प्रकाशमान तथा सीधी गतिसे जानेवाले एक लोहमय तोमरको अपने शत्रुपर प्रयत्नपूर्वक छोड़ा त॑ चरन्तं महारज्जे निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणम्
tato bhāskaravarṇābham añjogatimaya-smayam | sasarja tomaraṃ bhīmaḥ pratyamitrāya yatnavān ||
Disse Sañjaya: Então Bhīma, empenhando-se com todo o vigor, arremessou contra o adversário um tomara (dardo) de ferro, radiante como o sol e voando em linha reta com rapidez certeira e infalível. A cena ressalta a ética sombria do dever no campo de batalha, onde determinação e perícia são postas a serviço da vitória em meio ao confronto letal.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the warrior ethic (kṣatriya-dharma): in a righteous war, a fighter must act with focused effort and skill, even when the action is violent. It frames resolve and disciplined execution as central battlefield virtues.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma hurls a sun-bright, straight-flying iron tomara at his enemy, emphasizing the weapon’s radiance and direct, forceful trajectory.