Shloka 45
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
तमभ्यधावत् त्राणार्थ द्रोणपुत्रो महारथ: । कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च पुत्र तेडपि परीप्सव:,तब महारथी द्रोणपुत्र दुर्योधनकी रक्षाके लिये दौड़ा। कृपाचार्य और कृतवर्मा भी आपके पुत्रको बचानेके लिये आ पहुँचे
tam abhyadhāvat trāṇārthaṁ droṇaputro mahārathaḥ | kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca putra te ’pi parīpsavaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Zum Schutz stürmte Aśvatthāmā, der große Wagenkämpfer, Sohn Droṇas, nach vorn. Auch Kṛpa und Kṛtavarmā kamen dorthin, entschlossen, deinen Sohn zu retten.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of immediate protective loyalty: in a moment of peril, allies prioritize safeguarding their leader. Ethically, it also points to the tension between personal allegiance and the broader consequences of sustaining a destructive conflict.
Duryodhana is in danger on the battlefield. Aśvatthāmā rushes forward to defend him, and Kṛpa and Kṛtavarmā also arrive, all focused on rescuing and protecting Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son.