Shloka 23
अध्याय २२ — अमर्याद-युद्धवर्णन
Unrestrained Battle Description and Śakuni’s Rear Assault
त्रासयन्तौ दिश: सर्वा ज्याक्षेपकठिनत्वचौ । शकुनिस्तु रणे वीरो युधिष्ठिरमपीडयत्
trāsayantau diśaḥ sarvā jyākṣepakaṭhinatvacau | śakunistu raṇe vīro yudhiṣṭhiram apīḍayat ||
Sanjaya said: “Those warriors, their hands hardened by the harsh strain of repeatedly drawing the bowstring, were terrifying all the directions. Meanwhile, the valiant Shakuni, in the thick of battle, began to press and torment Yudhishthira.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the brutal momentum of war: repeated martial action hardens the body and spreads fear, while adversaries deliberately seek to afflict even a dharma-minded king like Yudhishthira. It underscores how battle amplifies suffering and tests steadiness and righteousness under pressure.
Sanjaya describes intense fighting where warriors, hardened by constant bowstring-drawing, terrify all quarters. At the same time, Shakuni engages Yudhishthira directly and begins to harass and oppress him on the battlefield.