अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
ततो वृन्देन महता रथानां रथयूथप: । आचार्यपुत्र: सहसा पाण्डवं पर्यवारयत्
tato vṛndena mahatā rathānāṃ rathayūthapaḥ | ācāryaputraḥ sahasā pāṇḍavaṃ paryavārayat ||
तदनन्तर रथियों के यूथपति, आचार्यपुत्र अश्वत्थामा, रथारोहियों के विशाल समूह के साथ सहसा वहाँ पहुँचा और पाण्डव को चारों ओर से घेर लिया।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how warfare often shifts from individual valor to collective tactics; ethically, it invites reflection on the tension between fair combat ideals and pragmatic strategies used to gain advantage.
Aśvatthāmā, commanding a large formation of chariots, suddenly advances and forms a ring around a Pāṇḍava warrior, attempting to isolate him by surrounding him from all directions.