Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
ते समन्तान्महाराज परिवार्य युधिष्ठिरम् । अदृश्यं सायकैश्षक्रुमेंघा इव दिवाकरम्
te samantān mahārāja parivārya yudhiṣṭhiram | adṛśyaṃ sāyakaiḥ śakra-meghā iva divākaram ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, para pahlawan itu mengepung Yudhiṣṭhira dari segenap penjuru dan, dengan hujan anak panah yang lebat, menjadikannya lenyap daripada pandangan—seperti awan guruh menutupi matahari.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how external violence and confusion in battle can temporarily obscure even a dharmic leader, yet the comparison to the sun implies enduring inner steadiness: righteousness may be covered from view, not extinguished.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that enemy warriors encircle Yudhiṣṭhira and unleash such a barrage of arrows that he cannot be seen, like the sun hidden by storm clouds.