Shloka 10
कर्णस्य एकाकि-प्रहारः तथा पाण्डव-महारथ-परिवेष्टनम् | Karṇa’s concentrated assault and the Pāṇḍava encirclement
अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्व योधो यो रक्षिता रणे | धृष्टद्युम्नस्य तं संख्ये निहनिष्यामि सायकै:
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno bhīmasenaś ca yodho yo rakṣitā raṇe | dhṛṣṭadyumnasya taṃ saṅkhye nihaniṣyāmi sāyakaiḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «Sea Arjuna, sea Bhimasena, o cualquier otro guerrero que, en el fragor de la batalla, se alce como protector de Dhṛṣṭadyumna, a ese, en el campo de combate, lo abatiré con mis flechas».
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, dharma as ‘protection of one’s ally’ and dharma as ‘fulfilling one’s martial vow’ collide. It underscores the ethical tension of the battlefield: righteous loyalty can provoke equally determined opposition, and vows harden conflict into personal, targeted enmity.
A combatant (reported by Sanjaya) declares that whoever—Arjuna, Bhima, or any other—steps forward to defend Dhrishtadyumna in battle will be killed with arrows. It is a threat and vow aimed at isolating Dhrishtadyumna by deterring or eliminating his protectors.