Shloka 9
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
वासितासंगमे यद्वदजय्यं प्रति यूथपै: । निजघान रणे वीरान् वीर: पुरुषसत्तम:
vāsitāsaṅgame yadvad ajayyaṃ prati yūthapaiḥ | nijaghāna raṇe vīrān vīraḥ puruṣasattamaḥ ||
Sebagaimana dalam bentrokan sengit para pemimpin kawanan bersama-sama merobohkan musuh yang tampak tak terkalahkan, demikian pula sang pahlawan, insan utama itu, menewaskan banyak kesatria di medan laga.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that what seems ‘unconquerable’ (ajayya) can be overcome through coordinated leadership and collective force (yūthapaiḥ), while also reminding the reader of the harsh moral reality of war—victory is often purchased through the destruction of many brave lives.
The narrator describes a foremost warrior (puruṣasattamaḥ) cutting down many heroes in the midst of battle, using a simile of herd-leaders bringing down a formidable opponent in a close clash to convey the intensity and decisiveness of the fighting.