Shloka 23
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि तपान्ते जलदो यथा । राजेन्द्र! जैसे गर्मीके अन्तमें बादल पानीकी बूँदें बरसाता है, उसी प्रकार महाबली शक्रदेव भीमसेनके ऊपर बाणोंकी वृष्टि करने लगा || २२ है ।।
sañjaya uvāca | vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi tapānte jalado yathā | rājendra! yathā garmīke ante meghaḥ jalabindūn varṣati, tathā mahābalī śakradevo bhīmasenasyopari bāṇavṛṣṭiṃ cakāra | hataśve tu rathe tiṣṭhan bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ |
Sañjaya thưa: “Tâu Đại vương! Như mây mưa vào cuối mùa nóng đổ xuống từng giọt nước, cũng vậy, Śakra hùng mạnh đã trút lên Bhīmasena một cơn mưa tên dồn dập không ngừng. Còn Bhīma, bậc đại lực, vẫn đứng vững trên chiến xa, dẫu ngựa kéo xe đã bị giết.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya steadfastness under adversity: even when circumstances collapse (a chariot’s horses slain), a warrior is expected to remain composed and resolute, meeting force with courage rather than despair.
Sañjaya describes a fierce exchange in battle: a mighty opponent, likened to Indra, rains arrows upon Bhīma like a monsoon cloud after summer heat, while Bhīma continues to stand on his chariot despite the loss of its horses.