Shloka 14
Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
८ 000 0 कप पाप प्र कक 2276 ५ ७ पा कद एष शिष्य: सखा चैव तव सत्यपराक्रम: । सर्वान् योधांस्तृणीकृत्य विजिग्ये पुरुषर्षभ:,“यह सत्यपराक्रमी वीर तुम्हारा शिष्प और सखा भी है। इस पुरुषसिंहने समस्त योद्धाओंको तिनकोंके समान समझकर परास्त कर दिया है
eṣa śiṣyaḥ sakhā caiva tava satyaparākramaḥ | sarvān yodhāṁs tṛṇīkṛtya vijigye puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Dia ini—muridmu dan juga sahabatmu—ialah wira yang tidak pernah luntur keperkasaannya. Sang banteng di antara manusia itu telah menewaskan semua pahlawan, menganggap mereka seperti helaian rumput belaka.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence and steadfast courage (“satya-parākrama”) can make even many opponents seem insignificant; ethically, it also underscores the tension in war-reporting—praise of prowess can slide into devaluing human life by likening warriors to “grass.”
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a particular champion—described as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s own disciple and friend—has routed the opposing warriors, conquering them as though they were of no consequence.