Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
विशेषयन् सूतपुत्र॑ भीमस्तिषछ्ेति चाब्रवीत् । परन्तु भीमसेनने अपनेको सूतपुत्रसे विशिष्ट सिद्ध करते हुए बाणोंद्वारा आकाशमें उन बाणोंमेंसे प्रत्येकके तीन-तीन टुकड़े कर डाले और कर्णसे कहा--“अरे! खड़ा रह” ।। ५० ३ || पुनश्चासृजदुग्राणि शरवर्षाणि पाण्डव:
sañjaya uvāca | viśeṣayan sūtaputraṃ bhīmas tiṣṭheti cābravīt | punaś cāsṛjad ugrāṇi śaravarṣāṇi pāṇḍavaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच— सूतपुत्रं कर्णं प्रति स्वं वैशिष्ट्यं दर्शयितुम् भीमः “तिष्ठ” इति चाब्रवीत्। ततः स पाण्डवः पुनरपि घोराणि शरवर्षाण्यसृजत्, आकाशे पततां शराणां प्रत्येकं त्रिधा छित्त्वा कर्णं प्रति समाह्वयन्।
संजय उवाच
Even within the violence of war, the epic highlights the warrior-code tension between personal pride and rightful duty: Bhima’s challenge and renewed arrow-rain show resolve and valor, while also illustrating how rivalry and harsh speech can inflame conflict and test ethical restraint.
Sanjaya describes Bhima confronting Karna (called ‘Sūtaputra’), daring him to stand firm. Bhima then intensifies the fight by releasing fierce volleys—an ‘arrow-rain’—signaling escalation in their battlefield exchange.