Shloka 11
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
ततोस्य कार्मुकं द्वाभ्यां सूत॑ द्वाभ्यां च विव्यथे । चतुर्भिरश्चानू जवनाननयद् यमसादनम्
tato 'sya kārmukaṃ dvābhyāṃ sūtaṃ dvābhyāṃ ca vivyathe | caturbhir aśvānū javān ānayat yamasādanam ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Pagkatapos, tinamaan niya ng dalawang palaso at nabali ang busog nito, at sa dalawa pa’y tinusok ang karwaheng-mamaneho. Sa apat na palaso, ibinagsak niya ang matutuling kabayo, at ipinadala sila sa tahanan ni Yama. Ipinakikita ng tagpong ito ang malupit na husay ng digmaan: ang pagkaputol sa kakayahang lumaban ng kaaway—sandata, tagapagmaneho, at mga kabayo—ay nagiging pasyang taktika, habang lalo ring bumibigat ang pananagutang moral ng karahasan sa larangan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic of decisive action: neutralizing the opponent’s capacity to fight (weapon, driver, and horses) is portrayed as an effective tactic, while also reminding the listener of the grave moral and existential consequence—death—ever-present in war.
In Sañjaya’s report of the combat, a warrior strikes an opponent’s bow with two arrows, wounds the charioteer with two more, and then kills the swift horses with four arrows, thereby crippling the enemy chariot and sending the slain to Yama’s abode.