Shloka 28
Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)
भित्त्वा चास्य तनुत्राणं शरेणोरस्यताडयत् | ततस्ते तावका वीरा राजपुत्रा महारथा:
sañjaya uvāca |
bhittvā cāsya tanutrāṇaṃ śareṇorasy atāḍayat |
Sañjaya sprach: Er durchbohrte seinen Panzer und traf ihn mit einem Pfeil in die Brust. Nach diesem Schlag rückten die Kuru-Prinzen—tapfere, große Wagenkämpfer—zornentbrannt zusammen und begannen, Abhimanyu mit scharfen Geschossen zu durchbohren; doch Abhimanyu, kundig in den edelsten Waffen, verwundete sie alle mit seinen schneidenden Pfeilen zurück.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of reciprocal action in battle: aggression provokes collective retaliation, yet true mastery is shown by composure and skill under pressure. Ethically, it underscores how anger (krodha) escalates conflict, while disciplined expertise can still prevail amid chaos.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior’s armor is pierced and he is struck in the chest by an arrow. Then the Kuru princes gather and, enraged, shower Abhimanyu with sharp arrows; Abhimanyu, expert in weapons, counters effectively and wounds them in return.