Shloka 71
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 114 — Karṇa–Bhīmasena Missile Exchange, Disarmament, and Arjuna’s Intervention
त्वं भीम रक्ष राजानमेतत् कार्यतमं हि ते । अहं भित्त्वा प्रवेक्ष्यामि कालपक्वमिदं बलम्,'भीमसेन! तुम राजा युधिष्ठिरकी रक्षा करो। यही तुम्हारे लिये सबसे महान् कार्य है। जिसे कालने राँधकर पका दिया है, इस कौरव-सेनाको चीरकर मैं भीतर प्रवेश कर जाऊँगा
tvaṃ bhīma rakṣa rājānam etat kāryatamaṃ hi te | ahaṃ bhittvā pravekṣyāmi kālapakvam idaṃ balam ||
त्वं भीम रक्ष राजानमेतत् कार्यतमं हि ते । अहं भित्त्वा प्रवेक्ष्यामि कालपक्वमिदं बलम् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes dharma through role-based duty: Bhima’s highest task is safeguarding the rightful king, while the speaker embraces personal risk to pierce the enemy host—framing victory and death alike under the sovereignty of Kāla (Time).
In the midst of battle arrangements, Bhima is instructed to stay close and protect Yudhishthira, while the speaker declares an intention to break through the Kaurava formation and enter deep into their forces, describing the enemy host as already ‘ripened’ by Time for destruction.