Shloka 23
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तस्यायसं वर्म वरं वररत्नविभूषितम् । ताराव्याप्तस्थ नभस: शारदस्य समत्विषम्
sañjaya uvāca |
tasyāyasaṃ varma varaṃ vararatnavibhūṣitam |
tārāvyāptastha-nabhasaḥ śāradasya samatviṣam |
taṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ śūraṃ bhrātā tasya mahārathaḥ |
sajyam anyad dhanuḥ kṛtvā śaineyaṃ paryavārayat ||
Sanjaya berkata: Baju zirah besinya yang unggul, dihiasi permata-permata terbaik, bersinar laksana langit musim luruh yang sarat bintang. Melihat pahlawan itu telah gugur, saudaranya—seorang maharathi—segera memasang tali pada busur yang lain lalu mengepung Shaineya (Satyaki), berusaha menahannya dari segala arah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how attachment to kin and the shock of loss can immediately harden into retaliatory resolve in war; it implicitly warns that violence tends to propagate further violence, even among those otherwise bound by dharma and warrior codes.
Sanjaya describes the slain warrior’s shining armor, then narrates that the fallen hero’s brother—an elite chariot-fighter—strings his bow and moves to surround Shaineya (Satyaki), attempting to restrain or counter him in battle.