Shloka 8
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
सम्प्रेक्ष्यैतान् सम्पतत: संक्रुद्धाउ्जातसम्भ्रमान्
saṃprekṣyaitān sampatataḥ saṃkruddhān jātasambhramān | saṃśayaṃ paramaṃ prāptaṃ majjantaṃ vyasanārṇave ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als er jene Krieger sah, die in Zorn und Aufruhr mit Macht heranstürmten, und erkannte, dass König Duryodhana in einem Meer des Unheils zu versinken drohte, in äußerster Lebensgefahr, wandte sich Droṇācārya an eure großen Wagenkämpfer: „Helden, Heil sei mit euch. Eilt hin und schützt König Duryodhana, der von der Krise überwältigt ist und in schwerem Zweifel um sein Überleben steht.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of war, the verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership and duty: commanders must read the battlefield, recognize imminent danger to those responsible for the polity (the king), and act decisively to prevent collapse. It also shows how loyalty and protection of one’s charge become urgent obligations when crisis peaks.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa sees warriors charging in anger and confusion, while Duryodhana appears to be sinking into severe danger—an ‘ocean of calamity.’ Droṇa then urges the Kaurava elite chariot-fighters to hurry and rescue/protect Duryodhana from this life-threatening संकट.