Shloka 21
कुम्भकर्णवधः — Kumbhakarṇa’s Fall and the Renewal of the Engagement
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः पार्था: पञ्च पउ्चेन्द्रकल्पा- स्त्यवत्वा त्रस्तान् प्राउ्जलींस्तान् पदातीन् । रथानीकं शरवर्षान्धकारं चक्कुः क्रुद्धा: सर्वत: संनिगृहर्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! द्रौपदी यह बात कह ही रही थी कि पाँच इन्द्रोंके समान पराक्रमी पाँचों पाण्डव भयभीत होकर हाथ जोड़नेवाले पैदल सैनिकोंको छोड़कर कुपित हो रथ, हाथी और घोड़ोंसे युक्त अवशिष्ट सेनाको सब ओरसे घेरकर खड़े हो गये और बाणोंकी ऐसी घनघोर वर्षा करने लगे कि चारों ओर अन्धकार छा गया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tataḥ pārthāḥ pañca pauñcendrakalpās tyaktvā trastān prāñjalīṁs tān padātīn | rathānīkaṁ śaravarṣāndhakāraṁ cakruḥ kruddhāḥ sarvataḥ saṁnigṛhya ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Então os cinco Pārthas — cinco heróis comparáveis a Indra —, deixando de lado aqueles infantes aterrorizados que, de mãos postas, suplicavam clemência, enfureceram-se. Cercando por todos os lados a força restante — os carros de guerra e o resto do exército —, desencadearam uma chuva de flechas tão densa que parecia espalhar-se a escuridão por toda parte.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, dharma differentiates between those who surrender and those who continue armed resistance: the narrative implies restraint toward the supplicating infantry while directing force against the remaining hostile formation.
As the scene turns violent, the five Pāṇḍavas become enraged, encircle the remaining chariot-force, and release a thick barrage of arrows so intense it is described as creating darkness all around.