Shloka 39
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
पादाताशक्ष त्रिसाहस्रा द्रौपदेयाश्व॒ सर्वश: । रणे हाभ्यद्रवंस्ते तु शकुनिं युद्धदुर्मदम्
sañjaya uvāca | pādātāś ca trīsahasrā draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ | raṇe hy abhyadravaṃs te tu śakuniṃ yuddha-durmadam | tad-anantaraṃ dharmarāja-ājñayā dhanuḥ-pāṇayaḥ saptāśata-hastinaḥ pañca-sahasra-aśvārūḍhāḥ parākrama-sahadevaḥ trīsahasrāḥ pādātāś ca draupadyāḥ sarve putrāś ca—ete sarve raṇa-bhūmau yuddha-durmadam śakuniṃ prati abhyadravan |
Sañjaya dit : Alors, dans la bataille, trois mille fantassins et tous les fils de Draupadī se ruèrent contre Śakuni, devenu arrogant dans la frénésie de la guerre. Puis, sur l’ordre de Dharmarāja, une troupe de sept cents éléphants portant des guerriers armés d’arcs, cinq mille cavaliers, le vaillant Sahadeva, trois mille fantassins et tous les fils de Draupadī s’élancèrent ensemble à travers le champ de bataille pour frapper Śakuni.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the violence of war, action is portrayed as ethically structured by rightful command (Dharmarāja’s order) and disciplined purpose; the verse contrasts dharma-guided obedience and coordinated effort with the moral danger of war-intoxication (yuddha-durmada).
Sañjaya reports that, following Yudhiṣṭhira’s command, a combined force—elephants with bow-armed riders, cavalry, infantry, Sahadeva, and all of Draupadī’s sons—launches a concerted charge against Śakuni on the battlefield.