Shloka 43
हताश्चं रथमुस्तृज्य स तु राजा श्रुतायुध:,अभ्यद्रवद् रणे पार्थ गदामुद्यम्य वीर्यवान् । घोड़ोंके, मारे जानेपर पराक्रमी राजा श्रुतायुध उस रथको छोड़कर हाथमें गदा ले समरांगणमें अर्जुनपर टूट पड़े
hatāś ca ratham utsṛjya sa tu rājā śrutāyudhaḥ, abhyadravad raṇe pārtha gadām udyamya vīryavān.
Sañjaya sprach: Als seine Pferde erschlagen waren, verließ der mächtige König Śrutāyudha seinen Wagen; die Keule erhoben, stürmte er mitten in die Schlacht und griff Arjuna frontal an.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage: even after losing his chariot (a major tactical support), Śrutāyudha continues the fight on foot with a mace. It also implicitly points to the moral cost of war—bravery persists, yet it fuels further destruction.
Śrutāyudha’s horses are killed; he leaves his chariot, raises his mace, and charges directly at Arjuna in the battle, as reported by Sañjaya.