Shloka 9
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
वासितासंगमे यद्वदजय्यं प्रति यूथपै: । निजघान रणे वीरान् वीर: पुरुषसत्तम:
vāsitāsaṅgame yadvad ajayyaṃ prati yūthapaiḥ | nijaghāna raṇe vīrān vīraḥ puruṣasattamaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : De même que, dans un heurt serré et tumultueux, un ennemi qu’on croit invincible est terrassé par les chefs d’un troupeau agissant de concert, ainsi ce héros, le plus éminent des hommes, abattit dans la bataille de nombreux guerriers.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that what seems ‘unconquerable’ (ajayya) can be overcome through coordinated leadership and collective force (yūthapaiḥ), while also reminding the reader of the harsh moral reality of war—victory is often purchased through the destruction of many brave lives.
The narrator describes a foremost warrior (puruṣasattamaḥ) cutting down many heroes in the midst of battle, using a simile of herd-leaders bringing down a formidable opponent in a close clash to convey the intensity and decisiveness of the fighting.