Shloka 246
Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam
महता रथवंशेन पार्थस्यावारयन् दिश: । तब रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कृपाचार्य
sañjaya uvāca | mahatā rathavaṃśena pārthasyāvārayan diśaḥ | tatra rathiyoṃ meṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kṛpācāryaḥ, duryodhanaḥ, aśvatthāmā, śalyaḥ, kāmbojarājaḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ, avantīke rājakumārau vinda-anūvindaḥ tathā bāhnalīkadeśīyaiḥ sainikaiḥ saha rājā bāhnīkaḥ—ete sarve rathināṃ viśālāṃ senāṃ sārdhaṃ kṛtvā tena pārthasya samantād diśaḥ, sarvān mārgaṃś ca rurodhuḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan barisan kereta yang sangat besar mereka menutup semua arah Arjuna. Di sana Kṛpācārya, Duryodhana, Aśvatthāmā, Śalya, Sudakṣiṇa raja Kāmboja, para pangeran Avanti Vinda dan Anuvinda, serta Raja Bāhnīka bersama prajurit negeri Bāhlīka—semuanya menghimpun bala kereta yang besar dan menyegel seluruh jalan Pārtha dari segala sisi.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma in war is tested not only by personal courage but also by strategic pressure: many renowned warriors combine forces to restrain one opponent, showing the ethical tension between collective necessity in battle and the ideal of fair, heroic combat.
Sañjaya reports that leading Kaurava-aligned chariot-warriors—Kṛpa, Duryodhana, Aśvatthāmā, Śalya, Sudakṣiṇa, Vinda, Anuvinda, and Bāhnīka with Bāhlīka troops—assemble a large chariot contingent and block all approaches around Arjuna, effectively hemming him in.