Shloka 8
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
सम्प्रेक्ष्यैतान् सम्पतत: संक्रुद्धाउ्जातसम्भ्रमान्
saṃprekṣyaitān sampatataḥ saṃkruddhān jātasambhramān | saṃśayaṃ paramaṃ prāptaṃ majjantaṃ vyasanārṇave ||
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat para pahlawan itu meluru dengan deras dalam kemarahan dan kekacauan, dan menyedari Raja Duryodhana seakan tenggelam dalam lautan bencana, jatuh ke dalam bahaya nyawa yang amat genting, Droṇācārya pun berkata kepada para maharatha tuanku: “Wahai para wira, semoga sejahtera atas kamu. Pergilah segera dan lindungilah Raja Duryodhana, yang dihimpit krisis dan terjerat dalam keraguan besar tentang kelangsungan nyawanya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of war, the verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership and duty: commanders must read the battlefield, recognize imminent danger to those responsible for the polity (the king), and act decisively to prevent collapse. It also shows how loyalty and protection of one’s charge become urgent obligations when crisis peaks.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa sees warriors charging in anger and confusion, while Duryodhana appears to be sinking into severe danger—an ‘ocean of calamity.’ Droṇa then urges the Kaurava elite chariot-fighters to hurry and rescue/protect Duryodhana from this life-threatening संकट.