Shloka 23
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
अश्वत्थामा रणे क्रुद्ध: समायाद्रथसत्तम: । ततः प्रववृते युद्ध तयोस्तस्य च भारत
sañjaya uvāca |
aśvatthāmā raṇe kruddhaḥ samāyād rathasattamaḥ |
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tayos tasya ca bhārata |
Lalu Aśvatthāmā, yang terunggul di antara para pejuang kereta, datang ke medan laga dengan amarah; wahai Bhārata, kemudian pecahlah pertempuran sengit antara dia dan kedua raja itu—Virāṭa serta Drupada.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) rapidly intensifies conflict: a warrior’s wrath becomes the immediate cause for escalation into direct, heavy combat. In the ethical backdrop of the Mahābhārata, it implicitly warns that even within kṣatriya-duty warfare, uncontrolled rage drives events toward greater destruction.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā, described as an excellent chariot-warrior, arrives on the battlefield in anger. As a result, a major fight begins between him and the two kings Virāṭa and Drupada, with all three engaged in combat.