Shloka 28
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
नक्षत्रैरर्धचन्द्रश्न शातकुम्भमयैश्चितम् । नरश्रेष्ठ तब भीमसेनने अत्यन्त वेगशालिनी एवं भारी और विशाल गदाको वहीं छोड़कर अत्यन्त भयंकर कर्म करनेकी इच्छासे तलवार खींच ली तथा ऋषभके चमड़ेकी बनी हुई अनुपम ढाल हाथमें ले ली। राजन्! उस ढालमें सुवर्णमय नक्षत्र और अर्धचन्द्रके आकारकी फूलियाँ जड़ी हुई थीं ।।
nakṣatrair ardhacandraiś ca śātakumbhamayaiś citam | narāśreṣṭha tadā bhīmaseno 'tyantavegaśālinīm evaṃ bhārīṃ viśālāṃ gadāṃ tatraiva tyaktvā 'tyantabhīṣaṇakarmecchayā khaḍgaṃ niṣkṛṣya ṛṣabhacarmakṛtām anupamāṃ phalakaṃ pāṇau jagrāha | rājan tasmin phalake suvarṇamayāni nakṣatrāṇy ardhacandrākṛtayaś ca phullikāḥ khacitā āsan || tataḥ kruddhaḥ kaliṅgarājo dhanujyām avamṛjya sarpaviṣopamaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ bāṇam ādāya bhīmasenavadhecchayā tam abhyapātayat ||
三阇耶说道：“人中之雄啊！彼时，毗摩塞那当场弃下那迅疾无比、沉重而巨大的钉锤。渴欲行最可怖之事，他拔出长剑，手执一面以公牛皮制成、无与伦比的盾。大王啊！那盾上镶嵌金制星纹，又钉饰半月形的金钉。随后，迦陵伽王怒火炽然，摩拭并绷紧弓弦，抓起一支可怖之箭，毒如蛇信；他一心要取毗摩之命，便将此箭射向毗摩塞那。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the warrior ethic (kṣatriya-dharma) in which resolve and readiness are paramount, while also showing how anger (krodha) drives lethal intent. It implicitly warns that rage can sharpen violence, even as duty and courage demand disciplined action in battle.
Bhīma changes tactics: he leaves his heavy mace, draws a sword, and raises a richly ornamented bull-hide shield. In response, the enraged king of Kaliṅga prepares his bow and shoots a terrifying, serpent-like arrow at Bhīma, aiming to kill him.