Shloka 41
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
षड्भि: सूतं त्रिभि: केतुं पुनस्तं चापि सप्तभि: । उसने नौ बाणोंसे भीमसेनको, आठ बाणोंसे उनके घोड़ोंको और छ: बाणोंसे सारथिको घायल कर दिया। फिर तीन बाणोंद्वारा उनकी ध्वजापर आघात करके उन्हें भी पुन: सात बाणोंसे बींध डाला || ४० है ।। भीमसेनो<पि संक्रुद्ध: साश्वयन्तारमाशुगै:
ṣaḍbhiḥ sūtaṃ tribhiḥ ketuṃ punas taṃ cāpi saptabhiḥ | bhīmaseno 'pi saṃkruddhaḥ sāśvayantāram āśugaiḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—षड्भिः शरैः सूतं विव्याध, त्रिभिः केतुमाहत्य, पुनश्च सप्तभिः शरैर्भीमसेनं बिभेद। अथ भीमसेनोऽपि संक्रुद्धः, साश्वयन्तारं तं प्रति, शीघ्रकारित्वेन समरे प्रत्युद्ययौ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: a warrior must respond decisively to aggression, yet the narrative also implicitly warns how anger (saṃkrodha) rapidly escalates violence, testing self-mastery amid duty.
An opponent targets Bhīma’s chariot-systematically striking the charioteer and banner and then piercing Bhīma with multiple arrows. Bhīma becomes enraged and prepares a swift counterattack involving the enemy’s chariot-team (horses and driver).