Shloka 33
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
सात्यकिश्नेकितानश्च युयुत्सु: पाण्ड्य एव च । धृष्टद्युम्न: शिखण्डी च द्रौपदेया: प्रभद्रका:
sātyakiś cnekītānaś ca yuyutsuḥ pāṇḍya eva ca | dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ || ete ca tvaritā vīrā vasuṣeṇam atāḍayan |
Sañjaya said: Sātyaki and Cekitāna, Yuyutsu and the Pāṇḍya king, together with Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, the sons of Draupadī, and the Prabhadrakas—these heroes, acting without delay, struck at Vasuṣeṇa (Karna). In the moral atmosphere of the war, this is the coordinated effort of the Pāṇḍava side to check a formidable champion whose prowess threatens the balance of the battle; urgency here is presented as a strategic necessity rather than personal cruelty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma-yuddha: when a single powerful warrior endangers many, coordinated action and swift restraint can be justified as protection of the larger force. Urgency and unity are portrayed as duties of leadership and alliance in a righteous war.
Sañjaya reports that multiple Pāṇḍava-aligned heroes—Sātyaki, Cekitāna, Yuyutsu, the Pāṇḍya king, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, Draupadī’s sons, and the Prabhadrakas—quickly converge and attack Karna (Vasuṣeṇa), attempting to wound and check him on the battlefield.