Shloka 22
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
समुद्यम्य गदां गुर्वी यमदण्डोपमां रणे,उन्होंने हाथमें जो भारी गदा उठायी थी, वह रणभूमिमें यमदण्डके समान भयानक जान पड़ती थी। शृंगंधारी कैलास पर्वतके समान ऊपर गदा उठाये हुए भीमसेनको देखकर दुर्योधन और अश्वत्थामाने एक साथ उनपर धावा किया
saṃudyamya gadāṃ gurvīṃ yamadaṇḍopamāṃ raṇe | śṛṅgadhārī kailāsaparvatopamāṃ gadām ūrdhvaṃ dhārayantaṃ bhīmasenaṃ dṛṣṭvā duryodhanaś cāśvatthāmā ca yugapat tam abhyadhāvatām ||
三阇耶说道：战场上，毗摩塞那举起沉重巨槌——可怖如阎摩的刑杖——高高擎立，宛若生角的凯拉萨山。见他如此，难敌与阿湿婆他摩当即并肩齐冲，直扑其身。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral gravity of war: weapons are not merely tools but symbols of consequence. By likening Bhīma’s mace to Yama’s rod, the text evokes accountability and the inevitability of retribution that follows violent action, even when performed under kṣatriya duty.
Bhīma raises his heavy mace in a fearsome stance on the battlefield. Duryodhana and Aśvatthāmā, seeing him poised to strike, coordinate and rush together to engage him.