Shloka 73
राजन! जैसे सिंह हाथीको सताता है, उसी प्रकार धृष्टद्युम्नको अश्व॒त्थामाके बाणोंसे पीड़ित देखकर पाण्डवपक्षसे पाँच शूरवीर महारथी वेगसे वहाँ आ पहुँचे ।। किरीटी भीमसेन श्र वृद्धक्षत्रश्न पौरव: । युवराजश्च चेदीनां मालवश्व सुदर्शन:,उनके नाम इस प्रकार हैं--किरीटधारी अर्जुन, भीमसेन, पौरव, वृद्धक्षत्र, चेदिदेशके युवराज तथा मालवनरेश सुदर्शन
sañjaya uvāca |
rājan! yathā siṃho hastinaṃ satāyati, tathā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ aśvatthāmnaḥ bāṇaiḥ pīḍitaṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavapakṣāt pañca śūrā mahārathā vegena tatra samājahruḥ ||
kirīṭī bhīmasenaś ca pauravo vṛddhakṣatraś ca |
yuvarājaś ca cedīnāṃ mālavaś ca sudarśanaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O King, just as a lion harasses an elephant, so too, seeing Dhrishtadyumna being tormented by Ashvatthama’s arrows, five heroic great chariot-warriors from the Pandava side rushed swiftly to that spot. Their names were: Arjuna the diadem-wearer, Bhimasena, Paurava, Vriddhakshatra, the crown prince of the Chedis, and Sudarshana, the king of the Malavas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of war, the passage highlights the kshatriya ethic of standing by one’s commander and allies: when a key leader is hard-pressed, comrades respond immediately, prioritizing protection and collective responsibility over hesitation.
Ashvatthama is pressing Dhrishtadyumna with a shower of arrows. Seeing this, five prominent Pandava-side maharathas—Arjuna, Bhima, Paurava, Vriddhakshatra, the Chedi crown prince, and Sudarshana of the Malavas—rush quickly to the scene to support and defend him.