Shloka 12
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
ततस्त्रिगर्त: सधनुरवतीर्य महारथात् । गदया चतुरो वाहान् राज्ञस्तस्य तदावधीत्,तदनन्तर धनुष हाथमें लिये त्रिगर्तराजने अपने विशाल रथसे उतरकर राजा युधिष्ठिरके चारों घोड़ोंको गदासे मार डाला
tatas trigartaḥ sadhanur avatīrya mahārathāt | gadayā caturo vāhān rājñas tasya tadā avadhīt |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraan, ang hari ng Trigarta, tangan ang pana, ay bumaba mula sa kanyang malaking karwahe at sa pamamagitan ng pamalo (mace) ay pinatay ang apat na kabayo ng haring iyon (Yudhiṣṭhira) doon mismo. Sa mabagsik na tuntunin ng digmaan, ang pagputol sa kakayahang makakilos ng kalaban ay isang mapagpasiyang taktika—ngunit lalo rin nitong pinatitingkad ang tensiyong moral ng labanan, kung saan hinahabol ang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng pagwasak sa mismong mga sandigan ng buhay at tungkulin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim pragmatics of kṣatriya warfare: victory often turns on disabling an enemy’s means of movement and protection. It implicitly raises ethical tension—martial duty permits harsh tactics, yet such acts intensify the suffering and moral weight carried by combatants.
The Trigarta king gets down from his chariot with bow in hand and uses a mace to kill the four horses of King Yudhiṣṭhira’s chariot, effectively immobilizing him in the battle.