Shloka 12
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
ततस्त्रिगर्त: सधनुरवतीर्य महारथात् । गदया चतुरो वाहान् राज्ञस्तस्य तदावधीत्,तदनन्तर धनुष हाथमें लिये त्रिगर्तराजने अपने विशाल रथसे उतरकर राजा युधिष्ठिरके चारों घोड़ोंको गदासे मार डाला
tatas trigartaḥ sadhanur avatīrya mahārathāt | gadayā caturo vāhān rājñas tasya tadā avadhīt |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。――ついでトリガルタ王は弓を手に、大戦車から降り立ち、棍棒でその王（ユディシュティラ）の四頭の馬をその場で打ち倒した。戦場の苛烈な掟において、敵の機動を奪うことは決定的な策である。だがそれは同時に、勝利が生命と義務を支えるものの破壊によって追い求められるという、戦の道徳的緊張をいっそう際立たせる。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim pragmatics of kṣatriya warfare: victory often turns on disabling an enemy’s means of movement and protection. It implicitly raises ethical tension—martial duty permits harsh tactics, yet such acts intensify the suffering and moral weight carried by combatants.
The Trigarta king gets down from his chariot with bow in hand and uses a mace to kill the four horses of King Yudhiṣṭhira’s chariot, effectively immobilizing him in the battle.