Shloka 23
अभ्यद्रवन् परीप्सन्तो व्यूढानीका: प्रहारिण: । संजयने कहा--राजन! युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, शिखण्डी, सात्यकि, नकुल-सहदेव, धष्टद्युम्न, विराट, द्रपद, केकय-राजकुमार, रोषमें भरा हुआ धृष्टकेतु तथा मत्स्यदेशीय योद्धा --ये सब-के-सब युद्धस्थलमें आगे बढ़े। अभिमन्युके ताऊ, चाचा तथा मामागण अपनी सेनाको व्यूहद्वारा संगठित करके प्रहार करनेके लिये उद्यत हो अभिमन्युकी रक्षाके लिये उसीके बनाये हुए मार्गसे व्यूहमें जानेके उद्देश्यसे एक साथ दौड़ पड़े
abhyadravan parīpsanto vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ |
Sañjaya said: O King, eager to accomplish their purpose, the Pandava warriors—whose troops were arrayed in battle formation and who were poised to strike—surged forward together. Driven by resolve and protective duty, they rushed to enter the enemy’s formation along the very path earlier opened, intent on safeguarding Abhimanyu and meeting the demands of kṣatriya-dharma amid the crisis of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: disciplined courage and collective responsibility. Even amid strategic complexity, the ethical impulse is protection of one’s own—standing by comrades and family, acting decisively, and accepting risk for a righteous obligation.
Sañjaya reports that the Pandava side, with troops arranged in formation and ready to strike, charges forward together. Their immediate aim is to press into the enemy’s battle-array along an opened route, motivated by the urgent need to protect Abhimanyu and respond to the unfolding danger on the battlefield.