Shloka 43
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
नकुलं विरथं दृष्टवा द्रौपदेयो महारथम्
nakulaṁ virathaṁ dṛṣṭvā draupadeyo mahāratham
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat Nakula kehilangan keretanya, putera Draupadī—seorang maharatha yang gagah—(maju untuk berhadapan dengannya). Baris ini menegaskan etika medan perang: saat seorang pahlawan menjadi terdedah, seperti ketika ditinggalkan tanpa kereta, itulah detik penentu yang menarik perhatian lawan yang kuat dan juga sekutu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key battlefield value in epic warfare: the condition of being 'viratha' (without a chariot) marks a critical vulnerability. It frames how warriors respond to shifts in advantage and disadvantage, raising ethical questions about protection, fairness, and the duty of powerful fighters in moments of another’s exposure.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula is seen to be without his chariot. In response, a Draupadeya—described as a mahāratha—takes notice and moves into the action, setting up the next beat of combat involving Nakula and the son of Draupadī.