Shloka 22
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
विकिरन ब्राह्मण युद्धे बहुभिर्निशितै: शरै: । अभ्यापतदमेयात्मा गौतमस्य रथं प्रति,सुकेतु अमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न था। वह युद्धस्थलमें बहुसंख्यक पैने बाणोंद्वारा ब्राह्मण कृपाचार्यको आच्छादित करता हुआ उनके रथके समीप आ पहुँचा
vikiran brāhmaṇaṃ yuddhe bahubhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | abhyāpatad ameyātmā gautamasya rathaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya disse: “Chovendo sobre o brāhmana Kṛpācārya, em plena batalha, muitas flechas aguçadas, o guerreiro de ânimo incomensurável arremeteu em direção ao carro de Gautama.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical tension of war: even a revered Brahmin-teacher like Kṛpa becomes a legitimate battlefield opponent when he takes up arms. It points to kṣatriya-dharma—engaging decisively in combat—while implicitly reminding that true prowess includes discipline and adherence to the rules of battle.
Sañjaya describes a warrior of immense resolve advancing on Kṛpa’s chariot, covering him with a dense shower of sharp arrows. The action signals a direct challenge and an intensification of the duel around Kṛpa’s position.