Shloka 24
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
चेदिपो वसुदानश्न दशार्णाधिपतिस्तथा । भारत! गर्जते हुए मेघके समान राजा भगदत्तको धावा करते देख भीमसेन
cedipo vasudānaś ca daśārṇādhipatis tathā | bhārata garjateva megha-samo rājā bhagadattaṃ dhāvantaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaseno 'bhimanyur rākṣaso ghaṭotkacaḥ draupadeyāḥ pañca satyadhṛtiḥ kṣatradevaś ca cedīrājo dhṛṣṭaketur vasudāno daśārṇarājaś caite sarve pāṇḍavapakṣīyā mahārathāḥ krodhāviṣṭāḥ pratīkartum ājagmuḥ || supratīkena tān api bhagadatto 'py upādravat | kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—भारत! गर्जन्मेघसमनादं राजा भगदत्तं वेगेनाभ्यपतन्तं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनः, अभिमन्युः, राक्षसो घटोत्कचः, द्रौपद्याः पञ्च पुत्राः, सत्यधृतिः, क्षत्रदेवः, चेदिराजो धृष्टकेतुः, वसुदानश्च, दशार्णाधिपतिश्च—एते सर्वे पाण्डवपक्षीयाः महारथाः क्रोधसंरब्धा अभिमुखा जग्मुः। अथ भगदत्तोऽपि सुप्रतीकनागारूढः तानभ्यद्रवत्। स दुर्धर्षो वीरः पुनः पुनर्विनिःश्वस्य तद्वृत्तान्तं कथयामास, यथा तस्मिन् घोरयुद्धे नायकानां मनांसि संकुलानि बभूवुः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of meeting force with disciplined resistance: when a formidable aggressor charges, the Pāṇḍava champions do not yield to fear but unite to counter him. It also subtly warns that anger (krodha) powers action yet intensifies the war’s destructiveness, pushing the conflict toward greater loss of life.
Bhagadatta advances fiercely, compared to a roaring cloud. In response, multiple Pāṇḍava-side elite warriors—Bhīma, Abhimanyu, Ghaṭotkaca, the Draupadeyas, and allied kings—move to confront him. Bhagadatta, mounted on his elephant Supratīka, charges into them, and the scene turns into a grim, escalating clash.