Shloka 9
धृष्टकेतुश्व॒ समरे राक्षसश्न घटोत्कच: । (नाकुलिश्व शतानीक: समरे रथपुड्रव: ।) पुत्राणां ते रथानीकं प्रत्युद्याता: सुदुर्जया:,धृष्टकेतु, राक्षस घटोत्कव और नकुलपुत्र श्रेष्ठ रथी शतानीक--इन अत्यन्त दुर्जय वीरोंने समरांगणमें आपकी रथसेनापर आक्रमण किया
sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭaketuś ca samare rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ | nakuliś ca śatānīkaḥ samare rathapuṅgavaḥ | putrāṇāṃ te rathānīkaṃ pratyudyātāḥ sudurjayāḥ |
サンジャヤは言った。戦の渦中、ドリシュタケートゥ、羅刹ガトートカチャ、そしてナクラの子シャターニカ――優れた車戦の勇士――そのいずれもがきわめて討ち難い英雄として進み出て、汝の子らの戦車隊形に向かい、迎え撃ってこれを打った。この場面は、戦の勢いを押し進めるのが血筋のみならず、勇と決意であることを示し、双方が不屈の闘将をもって前へ前へと迫るさまを描く。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of meeting force with force: formidable warriors step forward to confront an opposing formation. It also suggests that in war, capability and resolve—embodied by named champions—shape outcomes more than status alone.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Dhṛṣṭaketu, Ghaṭotkaca, and Śatānīka (Nakula’s son), all described as hard to defeat, have advanced in battle to attack the chariot divisions of the Kaurava forces (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons).