Shloka 3
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
महता शरवर्षेण पाण्डवं समवाकिरत् । द्रौणिश्चवाभ्यद्रवद् राजन् रथमास्थाय फाल्गुनम्,संजयने कहा--भरतनन्दन! सिंधुराजको अर्जुनके द्वारा रणभूमिमें मारा गया देख शरद्वानके पुत्र कृपाचार्य अमर्षके वशीभूत हो बाणकी भारी वर्षा करके पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनको आच्छादित करने लगे। राजन! द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामाने भी रथपर बैठकर अर्जुनपर धावा किया
mahātā śaravarṣeṇa pāṇḍavaṃ samavākirat | drauṇiś cābhyadravad rājan ratham āsthāya phālgunam ||
Sañjaya said: O King, with a mighty shower of arrows he completely covered the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna). And, O ruler, Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) too, mounting his chariot, charged straight at Phālguna (Arjuna).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and the impulse for revenge can rapidly escalate conflict: grief over a fallen ally becomes renewed aggression, showing the ethical danger of letting amarṣa (resentful rage) govern action even within a dharma-framed war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna is being overwhelmed by a heavy barrage of arrows, and that Aśvatthāmā, son of Droṇa, mounts his chariot and charges directly at Arjuna, intensifying the battle after the fall of Sindhurāja.