Shloka 166
शकास्तुषारा यवनाश्न सादिन: सहैव काम्बोजवरैर्जिघांसव: । तदनन्तर वहाँ सैकड़ों रथी और सैकड़ों हाथीसवार आततायी बनकर अर्जुनको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे दौड़े आये, उनके साथ शक, तुषार, यवन तथा काम्बोजदेशोंके अच्छे घुड़सवार भी थे
sañjaya uvāca |
śakāstuṣārā yavanāś ca sādināḥ sahaiva kāmbojavarair jighāṃsavaḥ |
tadanantaraṃ tatra śataśo rathinaḥ śataśo hastisvārāś cātatāyino 'rjunaṃ hantum icchayā samabhidrutāḥ |
Sañjaya said: Then, after that, hundreds of chariot-warriors and hundreds of elephant-riders—like ruthless assailants—charged forward with the desire to kill Arjuna. With them came the Śakas, Tuṣāras, Yavanas, and the finest horsemen of the Kāmboja land, all intent on slaughter.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war can draw many into collective aggression, where the aim shifts from honorable combat to the ruthless intent to kill. It implicitly contrasts such 'ātatāyī' behavior with the ideal of disciplined kṣatriya conduct—testing whether one can uphold dharma and steadiness amid overwhelming hostility.
After the preceding action, large numbers of fighters—chariot-warriors and elephant-riders—rush toward Arjuna to kill him. They are joined by cavalry from groups named Śakas, Tuṣāras, Yavanas, and Kāmbojas, emphasizing a massed, multi-ethnic assault focused on Arjuna.