Shloka 2736
Śiva’s Battlefield Manifestation and Vyāsa’s Śatarudrīya Exposition (शिवप्रादुर्भावः शतरुद्रीयव्याख्यानम्)
प्रत्यवारयदायस्त: प्रकुर्वन् विपुलं क्षयम् । यद्यपि अर्जुन कौरव-सेनाका महान् संहार करते-करते थक गये थे, तो भी उन्होंने उन सहसौरों रथों, हाथियों और घुड़सवारोंकी सेनाको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया
pratyavārayad āyastaḥ prakurvan vipulaṃ kṣayam | yadyapi arjunaḥ kaurava-senāyā mahān saṃhāraṃ kurvan kurvan thakito 'bhavat, tathāpi sa sahasraśo rathān gajān aśvārūḍhāṃś ca senām agre gacchantīm avārayat |
Sañjaya berkata: “Walau Arjuna telah letih karena berulang kali menumpahkan pembantaian besar atas bala Kaurava, ia tetap menahan laju pasukan yang terdiri dari ribuan kereta, gajah, dan kavaleri itu agar tidak maju.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness in duty: even when exhausted, Arjuna continues to restrain the enemy’s advance. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between the grim necessity of war and the kṣatriya obligation to protect one’s side through disciplined resolve.
Sanjaya reports that Arjuna, though tired from causing heavy losses to the Kaurava forces, still prevents the forward movement of large enemy contingents—thousands of chariots, elephants, and cavalry—by repelling and checking their advance.