Shloka 66
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
वृषसेन: कर्णसुत: शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तथा । द्रोणपुत्रश्न शैनेयं सर्वतः पर्यवारयन्
Vṛṣasenaḥ Karṇasutaḥ Śalyo Madrādhipas tathā | Droṇaputraś ca Śaineyaṁ sarvataḥ paryavārayan ||
Sañjaya said: Vṛṣasena, the son of Karṇa, and Śalya, the ruler of Madra, along with Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman), surrounded Śaineya on all sides. The scene underscores the ruthless logic of war: many renowned warriors converge to isolate a single opponent, where strategy and survival often override ideals of fair combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, collective force and tactical encirclement can be used to neutralize a formidable warrior. Ethically, it points to the tension between ideals of single combat and the pragmatic, often harsh realities of battlefield strategy.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Vṛṣasena (Karṇa’s son), Śalya (king of Madra), and Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) together surround Śaineya (Sātyaki) from all directions, indicating a coordinated attempt to overwhelm him.