Shloka 40
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
सुतसोमस्ततो<गच्छच्छुतकीर्तेर्महारथम् । सौबलो<पि भनुर्गह्य घोरमन्यत् सुदुर्जयम्
Sutasomas tato ’gacchac Chutakīrter mahāratham | Saubalo ’pi Bhānur gṛhya ghoram anyat sudurjayam ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—তখন সুতসোম শুতকীর্তি নামক মহারথীর দিকে অগ্রসর হল। আর সৌবলও ভানুকে সঙ্গে নিয়ে অন্য এক ভয়ংকর, দুর্জয় প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বীর দিকে ধাবিত হল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of seeking out capable opponents and meeting danger directly; it also shows how alliances and tactical pairings arise in war, where choosing whom to engage becomes a test of courage, judgment, and martial responsibility.
Sañjaya reports battlefield movements: Sutasoma advances to confront the great warrior Śutakīrti, while Saubala, accompanied by Bhānu, moves to engage another fearsome and difficult-to-defeat adversary.