Mahabharata 9.3.32 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 3, Shloka 32
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
तस्याश्ववाहान् सुबहूंस्ते निहत्य शितै: शरै: । तमन्वधावंस्त्वरितास्तत्र युद्धमवर्तत
tasyāśvavāhān subahūṁs te nihatya śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | tam anvadhāvaṁs tvaritās tatra yuddham avartata ||
సంజయుడు పలికెను—వారు పదునైన బాణాలతో అతని అనేక అశ్వారోహులను సంహరించి, వెంటనే శకునిని వెంబడించి పరుగెత్తిరి; అక్కడ ఘోర యుద్ధం చెలరేగెను.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how warfare rapidly escalates: a successful strike (slaying the horsemen) immediately leads to pursuit and a larger engagement. Ethically, it highlights the self-propelling nature of violence in battle, where tactical aims can intensify conflict rather than conclude it.
The warriors opposing Śakuni first kill many of his mounted troops with sharp arrows, then quickly charge at Śakuni himself. As a result, a major fight breaks out at that spot.
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