ततो भीमः समुत्पत्य स्वरथाद् वैनतेयवत् ॥
वरासिना कर्णपक्षाञ् जघान दश पञ्च च ॥
पुनः स्वरथम् आस्थाय धनुर् आदाय चापरम् ॥
विव्याध दशभिः कर्णं सूतम् अश्वांश् च पञ्चभिः ॥
धृष्टद्युम्नो ऽप्य् असिवरं चर्म चादाय भास्वरम् ॥
जघान चन्द्रवर्माणं बृहत्क्षत्रं च पौरवम् ॥
ततः स्वरथम् आस्थाय पाञ्चाल्यो ऽन्यच् च कार्मुकम् ॥
आदाय कर्णं विव्याध त्रिसप्तत्या नदन् रणे ॥
tato bhīmaḥ samutpatya svarathād vainateyavat ||
varāsinā karṇapakṣāñ jaghāna daśa pañca ca ||
punaḥ svaratham āsthāya dhanur ādāya cāparam ||
vivyādha daśabhiḥ karṇaṃ sūtam aśvāṃś ca pañcabhiḥ ||
dhṛṣṭadyumno 'py asivaraṃ carma cādāya bhāsvaram ||
jaghāna candravarmāṇaṃ bṛhatkṣatraṃ ca pauravam ||
tataḥ svaratham āsthāya pāñcālyo 'nyac ca kārmukam ||
ādāya karṇaṃ vivyādha trisaptatyā nadan raṇe ||
Then Bhima, leaping down from his chariot like Garuda, slew fifteen warriors of Karna's side with an excellent sword. Mounting his chariot once more and taking up another bow, he wounded Karna with ten arrows, and the charioteer and horses with five. And Dhrishtadyumna, taking up an excellent sword and a shining shield, slew Chandravarman and Brihatkshatra of the Paurava line. Then, mounting his chariot and taking up another bow, the Panchala prince wounded Karna with seventy-three arrows, roaring in the fight.
47c9ec5f8c27 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:22:09 PM UTC
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Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna show the versatility of the true master: equally formidable on foot with a sword and on the chariot with a bow. To leap into the enemy's midst with only a sword, cut down fifteen, and then mount again for the bow — this is the image of a warrior for whom no weapon is awkward. It is telling that both switch from sword to bow without hesitation, masters of every form of combat. The verse teaches that a true hero is not bound to a single weapon but skilled in all — on foot and mounted, with sword and with bow; that versatility of mastery makes a warrior invulnerable to any change of circumstance; and that greatness reveals itself in flexibility — in the ability to meet every situation with the means it demands, without faltering when the familiar is taken away.