Shloka 4
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
तं द्वादशाख्यैर्नकुलो माधवद्च त्रिभि: शरै: । धृष्टय्युम्नश्व॒ सप्तत्या भीमसेनश्न सप्तभि:
taṁ dvādaśākhyair nakulo mādhavaṁ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca saptatyā bhīmasenaś ca saptabhiḥ ||
நகுலன் அவனை பன்னிரண்டு அம்புகளாலும், மாதவன் (ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணன்) மூன்று அம்புகளாலும் தாக்கினார். த்ருஷ்டத்யும்னன் எழுபது அம்புகளாலும், பீமசேனன் ஏழு அம்புகளாலும் அவனை குத்தினார்।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined, coordinated action in the performance of kṣatriya-duty: multiple warriors focus their efforts decisively. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension—dharma pursued through force—where resolve and strategy are praised, yet the cost of violence remains implicit.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment in which Nakula, Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Bhīma each strike the same opponent with a specified number of arrows, indicating concentrated attack and the intensity of the Kurukṣetra combat.