Shloka 406
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
अभ्ययात् पाण्डवानीकं निध्नज्शत्रुगणान् बहून् । तत्पश्चात् सुतसोम श्रुतकीर्तिके विशाल रथपर चढ़ गया। उधर शकुनि भी दूसरा अत्यन्त दुर्जय एवं भयंकर धनुष लेकर बहुत-से शत्रुओंका संहार करता हुआ पाण्डव- सेनाकी ओर चल दिया
sañjaya uvāca | abhyayāt pāṇḍavānīkaṃ nighnan śatrugaṇān bahūn | tatpaścāt sutasomaḥ śrutakīrtikaś ca viśālarathaparivṛtaḥ samāruroha | udharaḥ śakuniḥ api dvitīyam atyantadurjayaṃ bhayaṅkaraṃ dhanuḥ gṛhītvā bahuśaḥ śatrūn saṃharan pāṇḍavasenāṃ prati calitaḥ |
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: Sumugod siya patungo sa hukbo ng mga Pandava at pinabagsak ang maraming pangkat ng mga kaaway. Pagkaraan nito, sina Sutasoma at Shrutakirti—na napalilibutan ng mga dakilang mandirigmang nakasakay sa karwahe—ay sumakay at pumasok sa labanan. Sa kabilang panig, si Shakuni man ay kumuha ng ikalawang busog, lubhang mahirap daigin at nakapanghihilakbot, at nagmartsa patungo sa hukbo ng mga Pandava habang pumapatay ng maraming kalaban.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inexorable drive of warriors in battle—valor and determination propel action, yet the narrative implicitly reminds the listener of the grave moral burden of mass killing, a recurring Mahabharata tension between kshatriya duty and the human cost of war.
Sanjaya describes a surge in the fighting: a warrior advances into the Pandava host slaying many; then Sutasoma and Shrutakirti enter the fray with chariot support; simultaneously Shakuni, taking up another formidable bow, moves against the Pandava forces while continuing to kill.