Shloka 10
कर्णस्य एकाकि-प्रहारः तथा पाण्डव-महारथ-परिवेष्टनम् | Karṇa’s concentrated assault and the Pāṇḍava encirclement
अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्व योधो यो रक्षिता रणे | धृष्टद्युम्नस्य तं संख्ये निहनिष्यामि सायकै:,“अर्जुन और भीमसेन आदि जो योद्धा रणभूमिमें धृष्टद्युम्नकी रक्षा करेगा, उसे मैं युद्धस्थलमें अपने बाणोंद्वारा मार डालूँगा”
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno bhīmasenaś ca yodho yo rakṣitā raṇe | dhṛṣṭadyumnasya taṃ saṅkhye nihaniṣyāmi sāyakaiḥ ||
अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्च योद्धा यो रक्षिता रणे । धृष्टद्युम्नस्य तं संख्ये निहनिष्यामि सायकैः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, dharma as ‘protection of one’s ally’ and dharma as ‘fulfilling one’s martial vow’ collide. It underscores the ethical tension of the battlefield: righteous loyalty can provoke equally determined opposition, and vows harden conflict into personal, targeted enmity.
A combatant (reported by Sanjaya) declares that whoever—Arjuna, Bhima, or any other—steps forward to defend Dhrishtadyumna in battle will be killed with arrows. It is a threat and vow aimed at isolating Dhrishtadyumna by deterring or eliminating his protectors.