Shloka 43
मान्धातृ-जन्म-चरितम्
The Birth and Career Account of Māndhātṛ
तेन सोमकुलोत्पन्नो गान्धाराधिपतिर्महान् । गर्जन्निव महामेघ: प्रमथ्य निहत: शरै:,उन्होंने महामेघके समान गर्जते हुए महापराक्रमी चन्द्रवंशी गान्धारराजको बाणोंसे घायल करके मार डाला था
tena somakulotpanno gāndhārādhipatir mahān | garjann iva mahāmeghaḥ pramathya nihataḥ śaraiḥ ||
Lomaśa sprach: „Durch ihn wurde der mächtige Herr von Gāndhāra—geboren aus der Soma‑ (Mond‑)Dynastie—von Pfeilen zu Boden gestreckt. Dröhnend wie eine gewaltige Regenwolke wurde jener kraftvolle König im Kampf zermalmt und erschlagen.“
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: in the arena of battle, even a mighty, well-born king can fall when overpowered. Lineage and fame do not exempt one from the consequences of conflict and the inevitability of death.
Lomaśa narrates a past combat episode: a great king of Gāndhāra, described as roaring like a thundercloud, is overwhelmed and killed by arrows shot by an unnamed warrior referred to as “he” (tena).