Shloka 216
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
शक्रदेवो5भिदुद्राव शरैरवकिरन् शितै: । शत्रुदमन भीमसेनको वहाँ रथहीन हुआ देख शक्रदेव तीखे बाणोंकी वर्षा करता हुआ उनकी ओर दौड़ा
śakradevo 'bhidudrāva śarair avakiran śitaiḥ | śatrudamana bhīmasenako vahāṁ rathahīna huā dekh śakradeva tīkhē bāṇoṁkī varṣā kartā huā unakī ora dauṛā
Wika ni Sañjaya: Nang makita ni Śakradeva si Bhīmasena—ang manlulupig sa mga kaaway—na wala nang karwahe, sumugod siya patungo rito habang nagbubuhos ng ulan ng matutulis na palaso. Ipinakikita ng tagpong ito ang walang tigil na agos ng labanan: sinasakmal ang bentahe sa sandaling malantad ang kalaban, at sinusubok ang kagitingan sa biglaang pagbaligtad ng kapalaran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma, vigilance and readiness are paramount: when a warrior becomes exposed (here, chariotless), the opponent presses the advantage. The verse highlights how swiftly circumstances change in war and how courage is measured in moments of sudden vulnerability.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīmasena has become rathahīna (without his chariot). Seeing this, Śakradeva charges toward him and showers him with sharp arrows, intensifying the immediate danger to Bhīma.