Shloka 216
Adhyāya 14: Śalya’s Missile-Pressure and the Pāṇḍava Convergence (शल्यस्य शरवर्षम्)
रथेनातिपताकेन पाण्डवं प्रत्यवारयत् । संग्रामभूमिमें पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनका वह पराक्रम देखकर द्रोणकुमार अश्व॒त्थामाने अत्यन्त ऊँची पताकावाले रथके द्वारा आकर उन्हें रोका
rathenātipatākena pāṇḍavaṃ pratyavārayat | saṅgrāmabhūmau pāṇḍuputra-arjunasya taṃ parākramaṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇakumāra aśvatthāmā atyanta-ūñca-patākāvalena rathena āgatya tān arodhayat |
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat kegagahan Arjuna putra Pāṇḍu di medan perang, Aśvatthāmā putra Droṇa maju dengan kereta yang mengibarkan panji amat tinggi, lalu menahan laju sang Pāṇḍava.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting force with direct counter-force: a warrior’s momentum is answered by another’s resolve. Ethically, it reflects how, even when the wider war has grown morally compromised, individual combatants still frame action in terms of courage, challenge, and the duty to resist an advancing foe.
On the battlefield, Arjuna’s martial success becomes evident. In response, Aśvatthāmā—Droṇa’s son—approaches in a chariot marked by a very lofty banner and blocks Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava), attempting to halt his advance and engage him.