Shloka 37
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
युधामन्यु त्रिभि: षड़भिरुत्तमौजसमाहवे । अन्यांश्व सैनिकान् विद्ध्वा युधिष्ठटिरमुपाद्रवत्
sañjaya uvāca |
yudhāmanyuḥ tribhiḥ ṣaḍbhir uttamaujasaṃ āhave |
anyānś ca sainikān viddhvā yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat ||
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Yudhāmanyu struck down Uttamaujas with three or six shafts; and after also piercing other soldiers, he pressed forward in pursuit of Yudhiṣṭhira. The verse underscores the war’s relentless momentum, where martial prowess and tactical aggression drive the action even against the foremost warriors, intensifying the moral strain of fratricidal conflict.
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical pressure of war: skill and duty-driven aggression (kṣatriya conduct) can rapidly escalate violence, reminding the reader that battlefield success often comes intertwined with moral burden and the tragedy of kin-conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Yudhāmanyu, amid the fighting, pierces Uttamaujas with a small volley of arrows (three or six), also strikes other soldiers, and then rushes forward to attack or pursue Yudhiṣṭhira.