Shloka 72
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
ततो वृन्देन महता रथानां रथयूथप: । आचार्यपुत्र: सहसा पाण्डवं पर्यवारयत्,तदनन्तर रथियोंके यूथपति आचार्यपुत्र अश्वत्थामाने रथारोहियोंके विशाल समूहके साथ सहसा वहाँ पहुँचकर पाण्डुनन्दनको चारों ओरसे घेर लिया
tato vṛndena mahatā rathānāṃ rathayūthapaḥ | ācāryaputraḥ sahasā pāṇḍavaṃ paryavārayat ||
Kemudian, dengan himpunan kereta perang yang besar, ketua pasukan kereta—Aśvatthāmā, putera sang guru—datang secara tiba-tiba lalu mengepung Pāṇḍava dari segala arah.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare often shifts from individual valor to collective tactics; ethically, it invites reflection on the tension between fair combat ideals and pragmatic strategies used to gain advantage.
Aśvatthāmā, commanding a large formation of chariots, suddenly advances and forms a ring around a Pāṇḍava warrior, attempting to isolate him by surrounding him from all directions.