Shloka 19
Saṃśaptakas in Candrārdha-vyūha; Arjuna’s Devadatta and the Traigarta Rout
Chapter 17
मालवास्तुण्डिकेराश्न रथानामयुतैस्त्रिभि: । सुशर्मा च नरव्याप्रस्त्रिगर्त: प्रस्थलाधिप:,महाराज! ऐसी प्रतिज्ञा करके प्रस्थलाधिपति पुरुषसिंह त्रिर्गतराज सुशर्मा तीस हजार रथियोंसहित मालव, तुण्डिकेर, मावेल्लक, ललित्थ, मद्रकगण तथा दस हजार रथियोंसे युक्त अपने भाइयोंके साथ युद्धके लिये (शपथ ग्रहण करनेको) गया
sañjaya uvāca |
mālavās tuṇḍikerāś ca rathānām ayutais tribhiḥ |
suśarmā ca naravyāghras trigartaḥ prasthalādhipaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kaum Mālava dan Tuṇḍikera, bersama Suśarmā—harimau di antara manusia, raja Trigarta dan penguasa Prasthala—maju ke hadapan setelah bernazar, dengan iringan tiga puluh ribu pahlawan kereta perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of vows and honor in a warrior culture: once a pledge is made, leaders and their allies feel compelled to act in accordance with it, even when it leads into destructive conflict.
Sanjaya reports that Suśarmā, the Trigarta ruler and lord of Prasthala, along with allied groups such as the Mālavas and Tuṇḍikeras, advances with a large chariot force—stated as three ayutas (thirty thousand)—as part of the mobilization in the Drona Parva battles.