Shloka 70
Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)
त॑ं तथा कोष्ठकीकृत्य रथवंशेन मारिष । विव्यधु: सायकै्ईश्टा रक्षार्थ मारुतेर्मुधे,माननीय नरेश! हर्षमें भरे हुए पाण्डव-सैनिक भीमसेनकी रक्षाके लिये अपने रथसमूहद्वारा कृतवर्माको कोष्ठबद्ध-सा करके उसे युद्धसस््थलमें अपने बाणोंका निशाना बनाने लगे
sañjaya uvāca |
taṃ tathā koṣṭhakīkṛtya rathavaṃśena māriṣa |
vivyadhuḥ sāyakaiḥ iṣṭā rakṣārthaṃ māruter mudhe ||
Sanjaya said: “O revered one, having thus hemmed him in as though confined within a chamber by a barrier of chariots, the Pandava warriors—intent on protecting Bhimasena, the son of the Wind-god—pierced him in the thick of battle with their chosen arrows.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of protecting one’s foremost warrior and ally through coordinated action. It frames battlefield violence as instrumentally directed toward safeguarding one’s side, emphasizing collective responsibility and tactical restraint (targeting the threat to protect Bhima).
In the midst of the Drona Parva battle, the Pandava fighters form a chariot-barrier to box in the opposing warrior (identified in the Gita Press gloss as Kṛtavarman). With him constrained, they shoot him with well-aimed arrows to ensure Bhimasena’s safety.