भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
अभ्यवर्षन्त वेगेन विसृजन्त: शितान् शरान् । युधिष्ठिर आदि पाण्डव महारथी शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामापर बड़े वेगसे पैने बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगे ।। आगच्छमानांस्तान् दृष्टवा क्रुद्धरूपान् परंतप:
sañjaya uvāca | abhyavarṣanta vegena visṛjantaḥ śitān śarān | yudhiṣṭhirādi pāṇḍavā mahārathī śastradhāriṣu śreṣṭha aśvatthāmā paraṃ baḍe vegase painē bāṇoṅkī varṣā karane lage || āgacchamānāṃs tān dṛṣṭvā kruddharūpān paraṃtapaḥ |
अभ्यवर्षन्त वेगेन विसृजन्तः शितान् शरान्। युधिष्ठिरपुरोगास्तु द्रौणिं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्॥ आगच्छमानांस्तान् दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धरूपान् परंतपः॥
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how, in war, anger and momentum can rapidly intensify violence; it implicitly contrasts the warrior’s duty to fight with the ethical danger of wrath (krodha) overtaking discernment, a recurring Mahābhārata concern about restraint even amid kṣatriya obligations.
Aśvatthāmā, described as a foremost weapon-bearer and great chariot-warrior, unleashes a swift shower of sharp arrows at the Pāṇḍavas led by Yudhiṣṭhira; seeing them advance in anger, he responds with heightened martial force.