Shloka 43
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तस्य भीमोडपि द्विरदं गदया समपोथयत् | तस्मात् प्रमथिताजन्नागात् क्षेमधूर्तिमवप्लुतम्
tasya bhīmo 'pi dviradaṃ gadayā samapothayat | tasmāt pramathitāj jannāgāt kṣemadhūrtim avaplutam |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Si Bhīma man ay pinabagsak ang kaniyang elepante sa pamamagitan ng pamalo (gada). Pagkaraan, si Kṣemadhūrti, nayayanig at napilitang iwan ang hayop, ay lumundag pababa at sumugod. Nang siya’y lumapit na may tabak sa kamay, muling hinampas siya ni Bhīmasena ng gada; sa bagsik ng tama, nalagutan siya ng hininga at bumagsak sa tabi ng kaniyang elepante, hawak pa rin ang tabak.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh logic of battlefield dharma: when combat is joined, hesitation can be fatal, and a warrior’s duty is to neutralize immediate threats decisively. It also reflects the impermanence of martial power—mount, weapon, and life can be lost in an instant.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma smashes Kṣemadhūrti’s elephant with his mace. Kṣemadhūrti dismounts and advances with a sword, but Bhīma strikes him again with the mace, killing him; he falls near his elephant with the sword still in hand.