Shloka 6
दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat
ततो<5धावन्त कौरव्या जिधघृक्षन्तो युधिष्ठिरम् । वुष्टभावान् पराउज्ञात्वा समवेता महारथा:
tato ’dhāvanta kauravyā jighṛkṣanto yudhiṣṭhiram | vṛṣṭabhāvān parājñātvā samavetā mahārathāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then the Kaurava warriors rushed forward, intent on seizing Yudhiṣṭhira. Recognizing that his spirit had been shaken and that he was in a state of discomposure, the assembled great chariot-fighters pressed in upon him.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, a leader’s inner steadiness directly affects tactical vulnerability: when Yudhiṣṭhira’s composure is perceived as shaken, opponents immediately attempt capture. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya-world’s emphasis on reading morale and exploiting openings, while also implying the dharmic need for self-mastery amid crisis.
Sañjaya reports that Kaurava fighters surge forward in a coordinated charge, aiming to capture Yudhiṣṭhira. They do so because they perceive him to be unsettled, and the gathered elite warriors close in to take advantage of that moment.