Shloka 41
द्रौपदेया: शिखण्डी च कुन्तिभोजश्न वीर्यवान् सुशर्मा च विराटश्न पाण्डवेया महाबला:
drauapadeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kuntibhojaś ca vīryavān | suśarmā ca virāṭaś ca pāṇḍaveyā mahābalāḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Die fünf Söhne der Draupadī und Śikhaṇḍī; der tapfere Kuntibhoja; sowie Suśarmā und Virāṭa—diese und viele andere mächtige Krieger auf Seiten der Pāṇḍavas, von Bhīṣmas Pfeilen gequält, versanken in einem Ozean der Trauer. Doch Arjuna rettete sie alle, gab ihnen den Mut zurück und führte sie aus jener Gefahr.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of righteous war, dharma expresses itself as steadfast protection of one’s allies and the restoration of morale. The verse highlights ethical leadership: a true hero does not seek glory alone but acts to relieve the suffering of comrades and prevent despair from overwhelming the righteous side.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that many prominent Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors—named here—are being severely afflicted by Bhīṣma’s arrows and are close to collapse in grief and danger. Arjuna then intervenes decisively, countering Bhīṣma’s pressure and saving those warriors from being overwhelmed.