Shloka 23
Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam
ततो दुर्योधनश्वैव कृपश्च रथिनां वर:
tato duryodhanaś caiva kṛpaś ca rathināṃ varaḥ | mahatā rathavaṃśena pārthasyāvārayan diśaḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces Duryodhana y Kripa—el más eminente entre los guerreros de carro—, junto con una gran formación de carros, cerraron todas las direcciones para Pārtha (Arjuna), cortándole las rutas de avance. La escena subraya cómo, en el fragor de la guerra, la contención estratégica y la fuerza colectiva se emplean para refrenar a un solo guerrero formidable, mientras el peso moral del conflicto sigue suspendido sobre cada decisión táctica.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata insight: in war, even exceptional prowess is met by coordinated opposition. Ethically, it points to the tension between individual valor and collective strategy within kṣatriya conflict—where tactical necessity often overrides personal rivalry, and many unite to restrain one who threatens the larger formation.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana and Kṛpa, supported by a large chariot contingent, position themselves to block Arjuna’s movement in every direction—effectively hemming him in and preventing him from advancing along any route.