Shloka 1
Adhyāya 14: Śalya’s Missile-Pressure and the Pāṇḍava Convergence (शल्यस्य शरवर्षम्)
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ५० श्लोक हैं।) अपन क्ाा छा 2 चतुर्दशो 5 ध्याय: अर्जुन और अभ्वत्थामाका युद्ध तथा पांचाल वीर सुरथका वध संजय उवाच अर्जुनो द्रौणिना विद्धो युद्धे बहुभिरायसै: । तस्य चानुचरै: शूरैस्त्रिगर्तानां महारथै:
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno drauṇinā viddho yuddhe bahubhir āyasaiḥ | tasya cānucaraiḥ śūrais trigartānāṃ mahārathaiḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—महाराज, समरे द्रोणपुत्रेणाश्वत्थाम्ना बहुभिरायसैः शरैर्जुनो विद्धः। तस्य चानुचरैः शूरैस्त्रिगर्तानां महारथैः स च समन्तादभ्यवकीर्यत।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical pressure of kṣatriya warfare: even the foremost hero must endure coordinated attacks without abandoning resolve. It also hints at the moral complexity of war—strength is often exercised through alliances and massed force, not only single combat, testing steadiness (dhṛti) and discernment amid violence.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna is being heavily struck in battle—first by Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son) with many iron arrows, and then by Aśvatthāmā’s accompanying Trigarta great chariot-warriors, indicating a concentrated offensive against Arjuna.