Shloka 5
Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication
ततस्ते त॑ं महावीर्या राजान: पर्यवारयन् । जिगीषन्तो नरव्याप्रं पूर्व विनिकृता युधि,वे महापराक्रमी क्षत्रिय पहले युद्धमें अर्जुनसे परास्त हो चुके थे और अब उन पुरुषसिंह पार्थको जीतना चाहते थे। अतः उन सबने उन्हें घेर लिया
tataste taṁ mahāvīryā rājānaḥ paryavārayan | jigīṣanto naravyāghraṁ pūrvaṁ vinikṛtā yudhi ||
ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า—ครั้นแล้วบรรดากษัตริย์ผู้ทรงเดชเหล่านั้น ซึ่งเคยพ่ายแพ้ในศึกมาก่อน ก็หมายจะพิชิตปารถะผู้เป็นพยัคฆ์ในหมู่มนุษย์ จึงเข้าล้อมเขาไว้ทุกทิศ
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in kṣatriya life: the pursuit of victory can be fueled not only by duty but also by wounded pride and the desire to erase past humiliation. It implicitly cautions that martial zeal (jigīṣā) often arises from ego as much as from dharma.
A group of powerful kings encircle the central hero (called ‘tiger among men’). Having been defeated earlier in battle, they now unite and attempt to overpower him, seeking a reversal of their former loss.