Shloka 4
तं द्वादशाख्यैर्नकुलो माधवद्च त्रिभि: शरै: । धृष्टय्युम्नश्व॒ सप्तत्या भीमसेनश्न सप्तभि:
taṁ dvādaśākhyair nakulo mādhavaṁ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca saptatyā bhīmasenaś ca saptabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Nakula le frappa de douze flèches, et Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa) de trois. Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna le perça de soixante-dix, et Bhīmasena de sept. Ainsi, dans la mêlée pressante, les guerriers Pāṇḍava concentrèrent leurs traits sur un seul adversaire, manifestant une résolution coordonnée au cœur de la rude éthique de la guerre, où le devoir s’accomplit par une force disciplinée.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined, coordinated action in the performance of kṣatriya-duty: multiple warriors focus their efforts decisively. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension—dharma pursued through force—where resolve and strategy are praised, yet the cost of violence remains implicit.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment in which Nakula, Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Bhīma each strike the same opponent with a specified number of arrows, indicating concentrated attack and the intensity of the Kurukṣetra combat.