Shloka 7
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
शिखण्डी कृतवर्माणं गौतमं च महारथम् | प्रभद्रकै: समायुक्तो योधयामास धन्विनौ,दूसरी ओर शिखण्डीने प्रभद्रकोंकी सेना साथ लेकर कृतवर्मा और महारथी कृपाचार्य --इन दोनों धनुर्धरोंसे युद्ध छेड़ दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
śikhaṇḍī kṛtavarmāṇaṃ gautamaṃ ca mahāratham |
prabhadrakaiḥ samāyukto yodhayāmāsa dhanvinau ||
サञ्जヤは言った。「そのときシカンディーは、プラバドラカ軍の援護を得て、二人の弓の名手—クリトヴァルマーと、大車戦士ガウタマ（クリパーチャールヤ）—に戦いを挑んだ。かくして戦の容赦なき要請のもと、敵味方の勇者は相対し、それぞれが忠誠と武人の務めに縛られていた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of allegiance and kṣatriya-duty in war: warriors are drawn into combat not merely by personal choice but by their roles, loyalties, and the collective momentum of the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍī, backed by the Prabhadraka troops, initiates combat against two prominent Kaurava archers—Kṛtavarmā and Kṛpācārya (called Gautama), both described as formidable fighters.