Shloka 23
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
अष्टावेते महेष्वासा: सुकुमारा यशस्विन: । अभिमन्युरथं राजन् समन्तात् पर्यवारयन्,उस युद्धमें चित्रसेन, सुचित्र, चित्रांग, चित्रदर्शन, चारुचित्र, सुचारु, नन्द और उपनन्द-- इन आठ यशस्वी सुकुमार एवं महाधनुर्थर वीरोंने अभिमन्युके रथको चारों ओरसे घेर लिया
aṣṭāv ete maheṣvāsāḥ sukumārā yaśasvinaḥ | abhimanyurathaṃ rājan samantāt paryavārayan ||
Disse Sañjaya: Ó Rei, naquela batalha oito jovens guerreiros ilustres—poderosos arqueiros—cercaram o carro de Abhimanyu por todos os lados, fechando-lhe a passagem em cada direção.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, collective force and tactical encirclement can overwhelm even a celebrated hero; ethically it invites reflection on the tension between valor and the fairness of combat when many converge upon one.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that eight famed young archers closed in around Abhimanyu’s chariot, surrounding him on all sides during the battle.