Shloka 22
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
पराजितस्य भीमेन निपपात शिरो महीम्,भीमसेनसे पराजित हुए अपराजितका मस्तक धरतीपर जा गिरा। तत्पश्चात् भीमसेनने एक-दूसरे भल्ल्लके द्वारा सब लोगोंके देखते-देखते महारथी कुण्डधारको यमराजके लोकमें भेज दिया
sañjaya uvāca | parājitasya bhīmena nipapāta śiro mahīm | tatpaścāt bhīmasenena anyonyena bhallakena sarvalokasya paśyataḥ mahārathī kuṇḍadhārakaḥ yamalokaṃ preṣitaḥ |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nang madaig siya ni Bhīma, ang ulo ng natalong mandirigma ay bumagsak sa lupa. Pagkaraan, sa harap ng lahat, si Bhīmasena ay gumamit pa ng isa pang matalim na palaso at ipinadala ang dakilang mandirigmang karwahe na si Kuṇḍadhāraka sa kaharian ni Yama. Ipinapakita ng taludtod ang matinding pagwawakas ng karma sa digmaan: ang galing at paninindigan ang nagtatakda ng buhay at kamatayan, at ang lantad na pagsaksi ng marami’y ginagawang di maikakaila ang tagumpay at pagbagsak.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising reality of righteous warfare as understood in the epic: in battle, defeat culminates in death, and the warrior’s fate is publicly witnessed. It implicitly points to the gravity of kṣatriya action—victory and killing are not private acts but carry social and moral weight, demanding responsibility and steadiness.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma defeats an opponent so decisively that the fallen warrior’s head drops to the ground. Immediately afterward, Bhīma shoots another arrow and, in full view of the assembled fighters, kills the great warrior Kuṇḍadhāraka, sending him to Yama’s realm.