Shloka 10
Virāṭa Rescued from Suśarmā; Night Battle and Royal Gratitude (विराटमोक्षणं सुशर्मवधाभिमुखं च)
सादिन: सादिभिश्लैव गजैश्लापि महागजा: । असिश्रि: पट्टिशै: प्रासै: शक्तिभिस्तोमरैरपि
sādinaḥ sādibhiś caiva gajaiś cāpi mahāgajāḥ | asiśriḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ prāsaiḥ śaktibhis tomarair api ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Reiter trafen auf Reiter, und selbst große Elefanten auf andere große Elefanten. Krieger mit Schwert und Schild standen denen gegenüber, die Streitäxte, Speere, Wurfspeere, Śakti und Tomara-Lanzen führten; so wurde der Zusammenstoß zu einem vielbewaffneten, ebenbürtigen Handgemenge, getragen von Kriegerpflicht und Kampfesglut.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya battlefield ethic: combatants meet like with like—cavalry against cavalry, elephants against elephants, and weapon-bearers against corresponding weapon-bearers—highlighting ordered martial engagement rather than random violence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates an intense clash in which different divisions of the army and different weapon-specialists collide simultaneously, producing a close-quarters melee involving cavalry, elephant corps, and multiple classes of arms.