Shloka 1203
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
तूर्णमभ्याविशद् द्रौणिर्धनंजयशरार्दित: । परंतु अर्जुनके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हो अभश्व॒त्थामा तुरंत ही रथसे व्याप्त एवं मतवाले हाथियोंसे भरे हुए व्यूहके भीतर घुस गया
sañjaya uvāca |
tūrṇam abhyāviśad drauṇir dhanañjaya-śarārditaḥ | parantu arjuna-ke bāṇoṃ se pīḍita ho aśvatthāmā turanta hī rathase vyāpta evaṃ matavāle hāthiyoṃ se bhare hue vyūha-ke bhītara ghus gayā |
Sañjaya said: Struck and harried by the arrows of Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā swiftly forced his way in. Though pained by Arjuna’s shafts, he at once drove his chariot into the battle-formation—crowded with surging chariots and filled with maddened elephants—seeking cover and tactical advantage amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension of war: even a formidable warrior, when wounded and pressured, seeks tactical refuge within a dense formation. It underscores how battlefield choices are driven by survival and strategy, while the consequences of violence—pain, fear, and escalation—remain unavoidable.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā, struck by Arjuna’s arrows, quickly enters a battle-array packed with chariots and maddened elephants, using the crowded formation as protection and a strategic position amid the ongoing combat.