Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba
तं बद्ध्वा विरथीकृत्य कृच्छ्रेण कुरवो युधि । कुमारं स्वस्य कन्यां च स्वपुरं जयिनोऽविशन् ॥ १२ ॥
taṁ baddhvā virathī-kṛtya kṛcchreṇa kuravo yudhi kumāraṁ svasya kanyāṁ ca sva-puraṁ jayino ’viśan
Setelah menjadikan Sāmba tanpa kereta di medan perang, para Kuru dengan susah payah mengikatnya. Lalu sebagai pemenang, mereka memasuki kota mereka kembali sambil membawa pemuda itu dan puteri mereka.
This verse states that the Kurus bound the young prince (Aniruddha), forcibly removed him from his chariot in battle, and returned to their city as victors, taking him and their daughter with them.
In the narrative context of Canto 10, the Kurus treat the outcome as a military victory and bring the captured prince along with their daughter, indicating a conflict involving royal honor, alliance, and the repercussions of the lovers’ episode.
Even in conflict, outcomes can shift quickly; this verse highlights the importance of humility, preparedness, and remembering that worldly victory is temporary compared to devotion and higher dharma.