Shloka 23
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तस्यायसं वर्म वरं वररत्नविभूषितम् । ताराव्याप्तस्थ नभस: शारदस्य समत्विषम्
sañjaya uvāca |
tasyāyasaṃ varma varaṃ vararatnavibhūṣitam |
tārāvyāptastha-nabhasaḥ śāradasya samatviṣam |
taṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ śūraṃ bhrātā tasya mahārathaḥ |
sajyam anyad dhanuḥ kṛtvā śaineyaṃ paryavārayat ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Su excelente coraza de hierro, engalanada con las más finas joyas, resplandecía con un fulgor semejante al cielo otoñal colmado de estrellas. Al ver caído a aquel héroe, su hermano—también un gran guerrero de carro—tensó otro arco y se cerró en torno a Shaineya (Satyaki), procurando contenerlo por todos los flancos.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how attachment to kin and the shock of loss can immediately harden into retaliatory resolve in war; it implicitly warns that violence tends to propagate further violence, even among those otherwise bound by dharma and warrior codes.
Sanjaya describes the slain warrior’s shining armor, then narrates that the fallen hero’s brother—an elite chariot-fighter—strings his bow and moves to surround Shaineya (Satyaki), attempting to restrain or counter him in battle.