Shloka 8
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
अश्वत्थामा तु हार्दिक्यमपोवाह यशस्विनम् । अथ शारद्वतोइश् शभि: प्रत्यविद्धयद् युधिष्ठिरम्
aśvatthāmā tu hārdikyam apovāha yaśasvinam | atha śāradvatō ’ṣṭabhiḥ pratyaviddhayad yudhiṣṭhiram ||
សញ្ជ័យបាននិយាយ៖ អશ્વត្ថាមា បាននាំយក ក្រឹតវರ್ಮា កូនហ្រ្ឌីកៈ ដ៏មានកិត្តិយស ឡើងលើរថរបស់ខ្លួន ហើយដកថយទៅកន្លែងផ្សេង។ បន្ទាប់មក ក្រឹបា កូនសារទ្វត បានបាញ់ចាក់ព្រះរាជា យុធិષ્ઠិរ ដោយព្រួញប្រាំបី។
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral strain of war: even while acting out of loyalty and tactical necessity (rescuing or withdrawing an ally), warriors simultaneously inflict harm on a king identified with dharma. It invites reflection on how duty in battle can conflict with broader ethical ideals and how consequences unfold regardless of personal virtue.
Aśvatthāmā removes Kṛtavarmā from immediate danger or from the combat zone. Immediately after, Kṛpa (Śāradvata) shoots Yudhiṣṭhira with eight arrows, continuing the fierce engagement in the Shalya Parva battle sequence.