Shloka 124
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
तत: शरशतैस्ती५णैरश्वत्थामा प्रतापवान् । निश्चैष्टी तावुभौ युद्धे चक्रे माधवपाण्डवी,तत्पश्चात् प्रतापी अश्वत्थामाने सैकड़ों तीखे बाणोंद्वारा श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन दोनोंको युद्धस्थलमें निश्चेष्टठ कर दिया
tataḥ śaraśataiḥ tīkṣṇair aśvatthāmā pratāpavān | niścaiṣṭī tāv ubhau yuddhe cakre mādhava-pāṇḍavau ||
Kemudian Aśvatthāman yang gagah, dengan ratusan anak panah tajam, membuat Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa) dan sang Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) seolah-olah tidak bergerak seketika di medan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the unpredictability and moral strain of warfare: even righteous leaders can be struck down by force, so dharma is tested not by invulnerability but by composure, discipline, and ethical conduct amid danger.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā showers sharp arrows in such quantity that both Kṛṣṇa (as charioteer) and Arjuna are made momentarily motionless on the battlefield, indicating a powerful offensive and a temporary setback.