Shloka 40
नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च
Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault
सादी सादिनमासाद्य पत्तयश्न पदातिनम्
sādī sādinam āsādya pattayaś ca padātinam
Sañjaya dit : S’étant rapprochés de l’aurige et du guerrier de char, les fantassins aussi pressèrent l’assaut contre les fantassins. Le combat se resserra en mêlée, où chaque ordre de combattants cherchait son vis-à-vis, dévoilant la dure loi de la guerre : l’art contre l’art, la force répondant à la force, tandis que le carnage redoublait.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive, but it implicitly reflects the battlefield ethic of reciprocal engagement: each combat arm seeks its counterpart, and conflict escalates when formations collapse into direct, class-to-class fighting—highlighting the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare rather than a moral exhortation.
Sañjaya reports a moment of close engagement: the charioteer confronts the chariot-warrior, and simultaneously the infantry press against infantry. It conveys the press and confusion of battle where different units meet head-on.