Shloka 40
नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च
Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault
सादी सादिनमासाद्य पत्तयश्न पदातिनम्
sādī sādinam āsādya pattayaś ca padātinam
قال سانجيا: ولمّا دنا المشاةُ من سائسِ العربة ومحاربِ العربة، اندفعوا هم أيضًا على المشاة. وانقبضت المعركةُ إلى قتالٍ متلاحم، حيثُ طلبت كلُّ فئةٍ نظيرَها، فانكشفت أخلاقُ الحرب القاتمة: مهارةٌ تلقى مهارة، وقوةٌ تُجابَه بقوة، واشتدّت المذبحةُ اشتدادًا.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive, but it implicitly reflects the battlefield ethic of reciprocal engagement: each combat arm seeks its counterpart, and conflict escalates when formations collapse into direct, class-to-class fighting—highlighting the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare rather than a moral exhortation.
Sañjaya reports a moment of close engagement: the charioteer confronts the chariot-warrior, and simultaneously the infantry press against infantry. It conveys the press and confusion of battle where different units meet head-on.