Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 77 — Saindhava resistance, Arjuna’s restraint, and Duḥśalā’s supplication
ततो रथसहस्रेण हयानामयुतेन च । कोष्ठकीकृत्य बीभत्सुं प्रहषष्टमनमसो 5 भवन्,एक हजार रथ और दस हजार घोड़ोंसे अर्जुनको घेरकर उन्हें कोष्ठबद्ध-सा करके वे मन-ही-मन बड़े प्रसन्न हो रहे थे
tato rathasahasreṇa hayānām ayutena ca | koṣṭhakīkṛtya bībhatsuṁ prahṛṣṭamanaso bhavan |
Rồi họ dùng một nghìn chiến xa và mười nghìn ngựa vây quanh Arjuna (Bībhatsu), giam chặt chàng như bị nhốt trong một hàng rào; và trong lòng họ hân hoan vì đã dồn chàng vào thế ấy.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how numerical strength and tactical encirclement can breed premature confidence. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such inward exultation (prahṛṣṭa-manasaḥ) often signals pride and misjudgment, reminding readers that dharma and true prowess are not measured merely by overwhelming force.
Vaiśampāyana describes opponents surrounding Arjuna with a thousand chariots and ten thousand horses, effectively penning him in like within a stockade (koṣṭhakīkṛtya). They feel secretly pleased, believing they have successfully trapped him.