Shloka 37
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
तां नदीं क्षत्रिया: शूरा रथनागहयप्लवै: । प्रतेरुबहवोी राजन् भयं त्यक्त्वा महारथा:,राजन! बहुत-से शूरवीर महारथी क्षत्रिय नौकाके समान घोड़े, रथ, हाथी आदिपर चढ़कर भयसे रहित हो उस नदीके पार जा रहे थे
tāṃ nadīṃ kṣatriyāḥ śūrā rathanāgahayaplavāḥ | praterur bahavo rājann bhayaṃ tyaktvā mahārathāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, ramai pahlawan Kṣatriya—para maharatha—menanggalkan rasa gentar lalu menyeberangi sungai itu, menjadikan kereta perang, gajah, dan kuda seolah-olah perahu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic (kṣatriya-dharma): fear is to be set aside when duty calls. Courage here is portrayed as disciplined resolve in action, especially amid the demands of battle.
Sañjaya reports to the king that many elite Kṣatriya fighters are crossing a river, treating their chariots, elephants, and horses as makeshift means of flotation—like boats—showing urgency and fearlessness as the armies maneuver.