Shloka 16
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
तत्कृते हाद्य पश्यामि शरतल्पगतं गुरुम् । धिगस्तु क्षात्रमाचारं धिगस्तु बलपौरुषम्,'सत्यवादी विदुरजीका वह कथन आज सत्य हो रहा है। दुर्योधनके ही कारण आज मैं अपने गुरुको शर-शय्यापर पड़ा देखता हूँ। क्षत्रियके आचार, बल और पुरुषार्थको धिक्कार है! धिक्कार है
tatkṛte hādya paśyāmi śaratल्पagataṃ gurum | dhig astu kṣātram ācāraṃ dhig astu bala-pauruṣam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kerana dia, hari ini aku menyaksikan guruku yang mulia terbaring di atas hamparan anak panah. Malulah adat dan tata susila ksatria; malulah kekuatan dan keperkasaan lelaki!”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse voices moral anguish: when war reduces a revered elder/teacher to suffering, even celebrated ideals like kṣatriya-ācāra (warrior code), strength, and valor appear blameworthy. It highlights the ethical cost of violence and the collapse of pride in martial virtues when confronted with tragic consequences.
Sañjaya, reporting events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, laments that the revered guru lies on a bed of arrows (the aftermath of Bhīṣma’s fall). Overwhelmed by grief and disgust, he denounces the warrior code and the very notions of strength and prowess that have led to this calamity.