Shloka 12
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
कृपेणच्छादितं हृष्टवा नृपोत्तम शिखण्डिनम् | प्रत्युद्ययौ कृप॑ तूर्ण धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथ:
kṛpeṇācchāditaṃ hṛṣṭvā nṛpottama śikhaṇḍinam | pratyudyayau kṛpaṃ tūrṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ ||
नृपश्रेष्ठ! शिखंडी कृपाचार्यांच्या बाणांनी आच्छादित झालेला पाहून महारथी धृष्टद्युम्न त्वरित कृपाचार्यांना सामोरे जाण्यास पुढे सरसावला.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of prompt responsibility: when an ally is endangered, a leader responds immediately, meeting the threat directly rather than hesitating. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma as disciplined action, protection of one’s side, and readiness to confront danger.
Kṛpa showers Śikhaṇḍin with arrows, effectively covering him. Observing this, Dhṛṣṭadyumna—described as a mahāratha—quickly advances to engage Kṛpa in order to counter the attack and support Śikhaṇḍin.