Shloka 11
Virāṭa Rescued from Suśarmā; Night Battle and Royal Gratitude (विराटमोक्षणं सुशर्मवधाभिमुखं च)
संरब्धा: समरे राजन् निजघ्नुरितरेतरम् | निधघ्नन्त: समरे<न्योन्यं शूरा: परिघबाहव:
saṃrabdhāḥ samare rājan nijaghnur itaretaram | nidhaghnantaḥ samare 'nyonyaṃ śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Raja, dalam pertempuran, mereka yang menyala oleh amarah saling menewaskan. Di medan itu mereka terus-menerus memukul satu sama lain—para pahlawan gagah yang lengannya bagaikan belantan besi—didorong oleh murka dan derap keras peperangan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (saṃrambha) in warfare erodes restraint and turns valor into reciprocal destruction. It implicitly warns that courage without self-control becomes ethically perilous, even when framed within kṣatriya combat.
The narrator describes a fierce clash where opposing warriors, enraged and powerful, are striking each other down in close combat—emphasizing the intensity and mutuality of the fighting.