Shloka 9
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
हताश्वात् तु ततो यानादवप्लुत्य महारथ: । खडगं चर्म तथा गृहा सत्वरं ब्राह्म॒णं ययौ,तब महारथी शिखण्डी उस अश्वहीन रथसे कूदकर हाथोंमें ढाल और तलवार ले तुरंत ही ब्राह्मण कृपाचार्ुकी ओर चला
hatāśvāt tu tato yānād avaplutya mahārathaḥ | khaḍgaṃ carma tathā gṛhya satvaraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ yayau ||
सञ्जय उवाच—ततः हताश्वात् तस्माद् यानादवप्लुत्य स महारथः। खड्गं चर्म च गृहीत्वा सत्वरं ब्राह्मणं कृपं ययौ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield resolve: even when deprived of one’s primary means (a horse-drawn chariot), a warrior continues the duty of combat by adapting—taking sword and shield and advancing. It reflects the stern momentum of kṣatriya conduct in war, where courage and persistence are prized, even amid ethically complex targets such as a brāhmaṇa-warrior.
After his chariot becomes horse-less, the great warrior (identified in the given context as Śikhaṇḍī) jumps down, arms himself with sword and shield, and rushes toward Kṛpācārya, who is described as a brāhmaṇa, indicating Kṛpa’s brahmin lineage despite his role as a martial teacher and fighter.