Shloka 8
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
गदाभिरन्ये गुर्वीभि: परिघैर्मुसलैरपि । पोथिता: शतशः पेतुर्वीरा वीरतरै रणे
gadābhir anye gurvībhiḥ parighair musalair api | pothitāḥ śataśaḥ petur vīrā vīratarai raṇe ||
duryodhanas tu rājānaṃ dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | saṃśaptakagaṇān kruddho hy abhyadhāvad dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Marami pang ibang mandirigma, na pinabagsak ng mabibigat na pamalo—mga gada, pamalong bakal, at mga musal—ay nagsipagbagsakan nang daan-daan sa larangan ng digmaan, nadurog sa kamay ng mga mandirigmang higit pang mabagsik kaysa sa kanila. Samantala, patuloy na inundayan ni Duryodhana ang pag-atake laban kay Haring Yudhiṣṭhira, anak ni Dharma; at si Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), naglalagablab sa galit, ay sumugod nang tuwiran sa hukbong Saṃśaptaka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence, when driven by rivalry and anger, intensifies destruction; it also contrasts Yudhiṣṭhira’s dharma-marked identity (dharmaputra) with the battlefield reality where even the righteous are targeted, reminding readers that ethical responsibility in leadership matters most when violence escalates.
Sañjaya describes mass casualties as warriors are crushed by heavy close-combat weapons. In the same moment, Duryodhana advances against King Yudhiṣṭhira, while Arjuna, enraged, rushes to engage the vowed Saṃśaptaka formation.