Shloka 87
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
अश्वत्थामा ततो राज्ञा हताश्वं विरथीकृतम् तमपोवाह हार्दिक्यं स्वरथेन युधिष्ठिरात्,इसके बाद अभश्व॒त्थामा अपने रथके द्वारा घोड़ोंके मारे जानेसे रथहीन हुए कृतवर्माको राजा युधिष्ठिरके पाससे दूर हटा ले गया
aśvatthāmā tato rājñā hatāśvaṁ virathīkṛtam | tam apovāha hārdikyaṁ svarathena yudhiṣṭhirāt ||
Sañjaya sprach: Daraufhin zog Aśvatthāmā mit seinem eigenen Wagen Hārdikya (Kṛtavarmā) von König Yudhiṣṭhira fort—denn Hārdikya war seiner Pferde beraubt und damit wagenlos geworden. Im Druck des Krieges zeigt diese Tat die unmittelbare Pflicht des Gefährten: das Leben des Verbündeten zu bewahren und ihn in Sicherheit zu bringen, wenn er schutzlos und verwundbar ist.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, a warrior’s immediate dharma includes safeguarding comrades who are suddenly exposed—here, removing a chariotless ally from imminent danger reflects loyalty, responsibility, and practical battlefield ethics.
Kṛtavarmā (Hārdikya) has lost his horses and is effectively without a fighting chariot near Yudhiṣṭhira. Aśvatthāmā brings his own chariot and pulls him away from Yudhiṣṭhira to save him and reposition him.