Shloka 406
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
अभ्ययात् पाण्डवानीकं निध्नज्शत्रुगणान् बहून् । तत्पश्चात् सुतसोम श्रुतकीर्तिके विशाल रथपर चढ़ गया। उधर शकुनि भी दूसरा अत्यन्त दुर्जय एवं भयंकर धनुष लेकर बहुत-से शत्रुओंका संहार करता हुआ पाण्डव- सेनाकी ओर चल दिया
sañjaya uvāca | abhyayāt pāṇḍavānīkaṃ nighnan śatrugaṇān bahūn | tatpaścāt sutasomaḥ śrutakīrtikaś ca viśālarathaparivṛtaḥ samāruroha | udharaḥ śakuniḥ api dvitīyam atyantadurjayaṃ bhayaṅkaraṃ dhanuḥ gṛhītvā bahuśaḥ śatrūn saṃharan pāṇḍavasenāṃ prati calitaḥ |
Sanjaya berkata: Ia maju menuju bala Pandawa, menumbangkan banyak kelompok musuh. Sesudah itu Sutasoma dan Shrutakirti—dikelilingi para kesatria kereta yang agung—naik ke atas kereta perang dan bergerak memasuki laga. Di pihak lain, Shakuni pun mengangkat busur kedua, amat sukar ditaklukkan dan mengerikan; sambil membantai banyak lawan, ia melaju menuju pasukan Pandawa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inexorable drive of warriors in battle—valor and determination propel action, yet the narrative implicitly reminds the listener of the grave moral burden of mass killing, a recurring Mahabharata tension between kshatriya duty and the human cost of war.
Sanjaya describes a surge in the fighting: a warrior advances into the Pandava host slaying many; then Sutasoma and Shrutakirti enter the fray with chariot support; simultaneously Shakuni, taking up another formidable bow, moves against the Pandava forces while continuing to kill.