Shloka 373
द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः
Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute
अष्टचक्रसमायुक्तमास्थाय प्रवरं रथम् । राजन्! उस समय राक्षसराज अलम्बुष आठ पहियोंसे युक्त श्रेष्ठ रथपर आरूढ़ हो उन दोनोंका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़ आया
aṣṭacakrasamāyuktam āsthāya pravaraṁ ratham | rājan! tadā rākṣasarāja alambuṣaḥ aṣṭabhis cakraiḥ yukte śreṣṭhe rathe samāruhya tayor ubhayor yoddhum abhimukhaḥ prāgād āyayau ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja! Pada saat itu raja rākṣasa Alambuṣa menaiki sebuah kereta perang yang gemilang, beroda lapan, lalu mara ke hadapan untuk menentang kedua-dua mereka.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the war-ethic of direct confrontation: warriors deliberately seek worthy opponents, and outward signs of power (like a magnificent chariot) become instruments that intensify conflict. It invites reflection on how valor and pride can propel violence, testing dharma amid the momentum of battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the rākṣasa-king Alambuṣa mounts an excellent eight-wheeled chariot and advances to face ‘those two’ warriors, signaling an imminent clash and a rise in the battle’s ferocity.