Shloka 83
Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)
केंचुलसे छूटकर निकले हुए सर्पके समान प्रतीत होनेवाली उस शक्तिने शल्यके रथपर पहुँचकर उनके सारथिको मार डाला और उसे रथसे नीचे गिरा दिया ।। ततो विराटद्रुपदौ धृष्टकेतुर्युधिष्ठिर: । सात्यकि: केकया भीमो धृष्टद्युम्मशिखण्डिनौ
keñculase chūṭakara nikale hue sarpake samāna pratīta honevālī us śaktine śalyake rathapara pahuṁcakara unake sārathiko māra ḍālā aura use rathase nīce girā diyā || tato virāṭa-drupadau dhṛṣṭaketuryudhiṣṭhiraḥ | sātyakiḥ kekayā bhīmo dhṛṣṭadyumna-śikhaṇḍinau ||
सञ्जय उवाच—सा शक्तिः केञ्चुलात् प्रमुक्त इव सर्पः प्रतीतिमती शल्यस्य रथं प्राप्य तस्य सूतं जघान, रथात् चापातयत्। ततः विराटद्रुपदौ धृष्टकेतुर्युधिष्ठिरः। सात्यकिः केकयाश्चैव भीमः धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ च युधि प्रावर्तन्त॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the swift, impersonal consequences of warfare: a single well-aimed weapon can abruptly end a life and shift the balance of battle. Ethically, it highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya-duty in war and the tragic cost borne even by supporting figures like charioteers.
A spear-weapon, described with a vivid serpent-like simile, strikes Śalya’s chariot and kills his charioteer, causing him to fall. Immediately after, a group of prominent Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors—Virāṭa, Drupada, Dhṛṣṭaketu, Yudhiṣṭhira, Sātyaki, the Kekayas, Bhīma, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Śikhaṇḍin—move forward, indicating a renewed surge in the battle.