Shloka 8
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
गदाभिरन्ये गुर्वीभि: परिघैर्मुसलैरपि । पोथिता: शतशः पेतुर्वीरा वीरतरै रणे,अन्य सैकड़ों वीर बड़े-बड़े वीरोंद्वारा भारी गदाओं, परिघों और मुसलोंसे कुचले जाकर रणभूमिमें गिर रहे थे दुर्योधनस्तु राजानं धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । संशप्तकगणान् क्रुद्धो ह्भ्यधावद् धनंजय: दुर्योधनने धर्मपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरपर और क्रोधमें भरे हुए अर्जुनने संशप्तकगणोंपर धावा किया
gadābhir anye gurvībhiḥ parighair musalair api | pothitāḥ śataśaḥ petur vīrā vīratarai raṇe ||
duryodhanas tu rājānaṃ dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | saṃśaptakagaṇān kruddho hy abhyadhāvad dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Banyak kesatria lain, dihantam gada berat, pentungan besi, dan alu, roboh beratus-ratus di medan laga—remuk oleh para pejuang yang bahkan lebih dahsyat daripada mereka. Sementara itu Duryodhana menekan serangannya kepada Raja Yudhiṣṭhira, putra Dharma; dan Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), menyala oleh amarah, menerjang lurus ke barisan Saṃśaptaka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence, when driven by rivalry and anger, intensifies destruction; it also contrasts Yudhiṣṭhira’s dharma-marked identity (dharmaputra) with the battlefield reality where even the righteous are targeted, reminding readers that ethical responsibility in leadership matters most when violence escalates.
Sañjaya describes mass casualties as warriors are crushed by heavy close-combat weapons. In the same moment, Duryodhana advances against King Yudhiṣṭhira, while Arjuna, enraged, rushes to engage the vowed Saṃśaptaka formation.