Shloka 4636
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
आयान्तं वीक्ष्य कौन्तेयं शक्रं दैत्यचमूमिव । तब दैत्य-सेनापर आक्रमण करनेवाले इन्द्रके समान अर्जुनको कौरव-सेनाकी ओर आते देख अभश्वत्थामा, कृपाचार्य शल्य और महारथी कृतवर्मा सूतपुत्रकी रक्षा करनेकी इच्छासे अर्जुनका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़े
āyāntaṃ vīkṣya kaunteyaṃ śakraṃ daityacamūm iva | tadā daityasenāpara ākramaṇakaraṇe indrasamaṃ arjunaṃ kauravasenāyāḥ oraṃ āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā aśvatthāmā kṛpācāryaḥ śalyaḥ mahārathī kṛtavarmā ca sūtaputrasya rakṣāṃ kartum icchayā arjunasya samīpaṃ pratīcchituṃ agre pratyudyayuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the son of Kuntī (Arjuna) advancing—like Indra charging against the host of the Dānavas—the Kaurava warriors beheld Arjuna, Indra-like in his assault, coming toward their army. Wishing to protect the charioteer’s son (Karna), Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, Śalya, and the great chariot-warrior Kṛtavarman moved forward to confront Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield dharma of solidarity: warriors are bound to protect their ally (here, Karṇa) even at personal risk. It also frames ethical tension—valor and duty expressed through collective defense—within the larger tragedy of fratricidal war.
Arjuna is seen advancing toward the Kaurava forces with Indra-like ferocity. In response, Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, Śalya, and Kṛtavarman move forward to intercept him, motivated by the immediate need to shield Karṇa from Arjuna’s attack.