Shloka 33
तेनान्तरेण बीभत्सुर्विवेशामित्रवाहिनीम् । न लेभाते तु तौ द्वारं वारितौ कृतवर्मणा
tenāntareṇa bībhatsur viveśāmitravāhinīm | na lebhāte tu tau dvāraṃ vāritau kṛtavarmaṇā ||
Meanwhile, Bībhatsu (Arjuna) forced his way into the enemy host. Yet the two of them could not gain the gateway, for they were held back by Kṛtavarman—showing how, in war, even rightful resolve meets deliberate resistance and must be tested by discipline and restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one’s cause and courage are strong, success in conflict depends on overcoming concrete obstacles through steadiness and disciplined effort; resistance is part of the moral and strategic testing of warriors.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna (Bībhatsu) penetrates the enemy formation, but ‘the two’ cannot reach the gate because Kṛtavarman blocks and restrains them.