Shloka 5
Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication
ततस्ते त॑ं महावीर्या राजान: पर्यवारयन् । जिगीषन्तो नरव्याप्रं पूर्व विनिकृता युधि
tataste taṁ mahāvīryā rājānaḥ paryavārayan | jigīṣanto naravyāghraṁ pūrvaṁ vinikṛtā yudhi ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian raja-raja yang gagah perkasa itu mengepungnya. Bernafsu menundukkan sang harimau di antara manusia, mereka—yang dahulu pernah dipermalukan dalam perang—kini mahu mengatasinya sekali lagi, didorong oleh maruah yang terluka dan dahaga kemenangan seorang pahlawan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in kṣatriya life: the pursuit of victory can be fueled not only by duty but also by wounded pride and the desire to erase past humiliation. It implicitly cautions that martial zeal (jigīṣā) often arises from ego as much as from dharma.
A group of powerful kings encircle the central hero (called ‘tiger among men’). Having been defeated earlier in battle, they now unite and attempt to overpower him, seeking a reversal of their former loss.