Shloka 19
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
तावेकस्थौ रणे वीरावावन्त्यौ रथिनां वरौ । शरान् मुमुचतुस्तूर्णमिरावति महात्मनि,रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ वे दोनों आवन्त्य वीर रणभूमिमें एक ही रथपर बैठकर बड़ी शीघ्रताके साथ महामना इरावानपर बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगे
tāv ekasthau raṇe vīrāv āvantyau rathināṃ varau | śarān mumucatus tūrṇam irāvati mahātmani ||
Sanjaya said: Those two Avanti heroes—foremost among chariot-warriors—stood together in the battle and, with great speed, began to discharge volleys of arrows at the high-souled Irāvān. The scene underscores the relentless momentum of war, where prowess and coordinated assault are displayed without pause, even against a noble opponent.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of Kurukṣetra: coordinated martial action and unwavering engagement in battle. Ethically, it reflects how war compresses moral space—valor and duty are foregrounded even when the opponent is described as mahātman (noble), reminding readers that nobility does not exempt one from the harsh mechanics of conflict.
Sanjaya reports that two renowned chariot-warriors from Avanti, acting together, rapidly shoot volleys of arrows at Irāvān on the battlefield, intensifying the combat around him.