Shloka 23
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 37: Sañjaya’s Account of Abhimanyu’s Precision Disruption of a Chariot Contingent
ततस्तस्मिन् हते वीरे सौभद्रेणाश्मकेश्वरे
tatastasmīn hate vīre saubhadreṇāśmakeśvare
Kemudian, ketika sang pahlawan penguasa Aśmaka itu tewas di tangan Saubhadra, arah pertempuran pun berubah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical weight of leadership in dharmic warfare: the fall of a principal warrior is not merely personal loss but a moral and strategic turning point that reshapes collective resolve and responsibility.
Sañjaya reports that Saubhadra (Abhimanyu) has slain the heroic ruler of the Aśmaka forces; this death serves as a pivot in the battle narrative, setting up the reactions and subsequent movements of the armies.