Shloka 16
कर्णभीमयुद्धम्
Karna–Bhīma Combat Report
भीमसेनं तदा क्रुद्धं भीमरूपो भयानक: । प्रत्यवारयदायान्तमार्ष्यशृड्धिर्महारथ:,भयंकर रूपधारी एवं भयानक महारथी ऋष्यशुंग-कुमार अलम्बुषने उस समय क्रोधमें भरकर आते हुए भीमसेनको रोका
bhīmasenaṃ tadā kruddhaṃ bhīmarūpo bhayānakaḥ | pratyavārayad āyāntam ārṣyaśṛṅgir mahārathaḥ ||
भीमसेनं तदा क्रुद्धं भीमरूपो भयानकः । प्रत्यवारयदायान्तमार्ष्यशृङ्गिर्महारथः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata’s war narrative: uncontrolled anger (krodha) propels action, but the battlefield also demands restraint, strategy, and counter-measures. Even immense strength like Bhīma’s can be checked when an opponent applies timely resistance; thus, power without composure is not automatically decisive.
Bhīma, furious and advancing to attack, is intercepted and stopped by the great warrior Ārṣyaśṛṅgi—identified in many recensions/traditions with Alambuṣa, the son of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga—who takes on a terrifying form and blocks Bhīma’s onrush.