Shloka 25
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
वज़मृत्युप्रतीकाशैर्विचित्रायुधनि:सृतै: । अमृष्यमाणास्ते सर्वे सौभद्रंं रथसत्तमम्
vajamṛtyupratīkāśair vicitrāyudhaniḥsṛtaiḥ | amṛṣyamāṇās te sarve saubhadraṃ rathasattamam ||
Sanjaya berkata: Tak sanggup menahan dirinya, semua kesatria itu menyerbu Saubhadra—yang utama di antara para penunggang kereta—dengan melepaskan hujan senjata aneka rupa, berkilau laksana wajra dan seakan-akan maut itu sendiri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intolerance of excellence (amṛṣyamāṇāḥ) can lead to collective escalation in violence. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical lens, war tests character: resentment and envy can eclipse restraint, pushing warriors toward ever more lethal means.
Sañjaya describes a moment in battle where many fighters, unable to bear Saubhadra’s prowess, discharge a variety of deadly weapons at him—so fearsome they seem like death itself—marking an intense, concentrated assault on Abhimanyu.