During the intense phases of the Kurukshetra War, the mighty Bhagadatta, king of Pragjyotisha, mounted on his formidable war elephant and famed for his skill in elephant warfare, confronted Bhīma, the strongest of the Pandavas. Bhīma, though renowned for his immense strength and prowess in mace combat, faced an unusual challenge against the combination of Bhagadatta’s combat strategy and the sheer might of his elephants. As the battle intensified, Bhagadatta launched a relentless assault, charging with his elephant and striking with powerful tusks while hurling heavy maces and spears. In the process, Bhīma sustained significant injuries, including wounds from the elephant’s tusks and Bhagadatta’s weapons, which tested his endurance and battlefield skill,before retreating before the enforcement arrives. Despite being wounded, Bhīma fought valiantly, using his strength and agility to dodge some attacks while countering others. The clash demonstrated both Bhagadatta’s formidable power and Bhīma’s resilience under extreme pressure. Although Bhīma recovered and eventually maintained the Pandava advantage, the encounter emphasized the dangers posed by specialized warriors like Bhagadatta, whose mastery over elephant warfare could momentarily overpower even the mightiest of the Pandavas.
