Shloka 23
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
अश्वत्थामा रणे क्रुद्ध: समायाद्रथसत्तम: । ततः प्रववृते युद्ध तयोस्तस्य च भारत,तब रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वत्थामा रणभूमिमें कुपित होकर आया। भारत! फिर अश्व॒त्थामाका विराट और ट्रुपदके साथ भारी युद्ध छिड़ गया
sañjaya uvāca |
aśvatthāmā raṇe kruddhaḥ samāyād rathasattamaḥ |
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tayos tasya ca bhārata |
تب رتھیوں میں سب سے برتر اشوتھاما غصّے میں بھر کر میدانِ جنگ میں آیا؛ اے بھارت! پھر اس کا وِراٹ اور دروپد—ان دونوں کے ساتھ سخت جنگ چھڑ گئی۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) rapidly intensifies conflict: a warrior’s wrath becomes the immediate cause for escalation into direct, heavy combat. In the ethical backdrop of the Mahābhārata, it implicitly warns that even within kṣatriya-duty warfare, uncontrolled rage drives events toward greater destruction.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā, described as an excellent chariot-warrior, arrives on the battlefield in anger. As a result, a major fight begins between him and the two kings Virāṭa and Drupada, with all three engaged in combat.