Shloka 386
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
पुत्र: पाउ्चालराजस्य जिधघांसु: कुञज्जरान् ययौ | उधर धृष्टद्युम्नने समरांगणमें राजा दुर्योधनको पराजित कर दिया था। महाराज! जब आपका पुत्र घोड़ेकी पीठपर सवार हो वहाँसे भाग गया, तब समस्त पाण्डवोंको हाथियोंसे घिरा हुआ देखकर धृष्टद्युम्नने सहसा उस गजसेनापर धावा किया। पांचालराजके पुत्र धृष्टद्यम्न उन हाथियोंको मार डालनेके लिये वहाँसे चल दिये
sañjaya uvāca | putraḥ pāñcālarājasya jighāṃsuḥ kuñjarān yayau |
Sanjaya said: The son of the king of the Pāñcālas, intent on slaying the elephants, advanced against them. In the unfolding of the battle, seeing the Pāṇḍavas hemmed in by an elephant-corps after Duryodhana had fled on horseback, Dhṛṣṭadyumna swiftly charged that elephant formation—an act driven by the warrior’s duty to protect allies and break an oppressive encirclement.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Within the battlefield ethic of the Mahābhārata, a kṣatriya leader must act decisively to protect comrades and counter an unjust tactical advantage. Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s charge embodies courage and responsibility: breaking an encirclement to safeguard allies, even at great personal risk.
Sanjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of the Pāñcāla king, advances with the aim of killing the war-elephants. The surrounding context explains that after Duryodhana withdraws on horseback, the Pāṇḍavas are seen hemmed in by an elephant formation, prompting Dhṛṣṭadyumna to rush and assault that elephant-corps.