Shloka 8
दुष्प्रधर्ष: सुबाहुश्न वातवेगसुवर्चसौ । धनुग्रहो दुर्मदक्ष जलसंध: शल: सह:,श्रुतर्वा, दुर्धर, क्राथ (क्रथन), विवित्सु, विकट (विकटानन), सम, निषंगी, कवची, पाशी, नन्द, उपनन्द, दुष्प्रधर्ष, सुबाहु, वातवेग, सुवर्चा, धनुग्राह, दुर्मद, जलसन्ध, शल और सह--ये महाबली और पराक्रमी आपके पुत्रगण, बहुसंख्यक रथोंसे घिरकर भीमसेनके पास जा पहुँचे और उन्हें सब ओरसे घेरकर खड़े हो गये
sañjaya uvāca | duṣpradharṣaḥ subāhuś ca vātavega-suvarchasau | dhanugrāho durmadaś ca jalasandhaḥ śalaḥ sahaḥ | śrutārvā durdharaḥ krāthaḥ (krathanaḥ) vivitsuḥ vikaṭaḥ (vikaṭānanaḥ) samaḥ niṣaṅgī kavacī pāśī nanda upanandaḥ—ete mahābalāḥ parākramiṇaḥ tava putrāḥ bahusaṅkhyakai rathaiḥ parivṛtā api bhīmasenasya samīpam upajagmuḥ | taṃ ca sarvataḥ parivārya tasthuḥ ||
Sanjaya said: Duṣpradharṣa, Subāhu, Vātavega, Suvarchas, Dhanugrāha, Durmada, Jalasandha, Śala, Saha, Śrutārvā, Durdhara, Krātha (Krathana), Vivitsu, Vikaṭa (Vikaṭānana), Sama, Niṣaṅgī, Kavacī, Pāśī, Nanda, and Upananda—these mighty and valiant sons of yours, though surrounded by a great multitude of chariots, advanced to Bhīmasena. Closing in from every side, they stood encircling him, intent on overpowering a single formidable foe through coordinated force in the press of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in war: many warriors combine to surround a single powerful opponent. It underscores the importance of strategy and collective action, while also inviting reflection on fairness and the kṣatriya ideal of meeting strength with strength rather than relying solely on numerical advantage.
Sanjaya lists several Kaurava princes and allies who, with a large chariot contingent, advance toward Bhīma and take positions all around him, forming an encirclement to contain and defeat him in the ongoing battle of the Karṇa Parva.