Shloka 15
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
कृपाचार्य, भूरिश्रवा, शल्य, अश्व॒त्थामा, विविंशति, चित्रसेन, विकर्ण, सिंधुराज जयद्रथ, बृहदबल तथा अवन्तीके राजकुमार महाथधनुर्धर विन्द और अनुविन्द--इन सबने दुर्योधनको उसकी रक्षाके लिये सब ओरसे घेर लिया ।।
sañjaya uvāca | kṛpācāryo bhūriśravāḥ śalya aśvatthāmā viviṁśatiś citraseno vikarṇaḥ sindhurājo jayadratho bṛhadbalaś tathā avantīke rājakumārau mahādhanuṣdharau vindaś cānuvindaś ca—ete sarve duryodhanaṁ rakṣārthaṁ sarvataḥ paryavārayām āsuḥ || te viṁśatipadaṁ gatvā samprāhāraṁ pracakrire | pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca parasparajighāṁsavaḥ yuddham āceruḥ ||
桑阇耶说：克利波阿阇梨、部利湿罗婆、舍利耶、阿湿婆他摩、毗毗摩湿底、奇多罗塞那、毗迦尔那、信度王阇耶陀罗他、布利诃陀婆罗，以及阿槃提的两位王子——温陀与阿奴温陀，皆为强弓健将——众人从四面合围都利约陀那以护其身。前进约二十步，便掀起兵刃交击之战；于是般度与持国之子一方的武士，怀着相互杀戮之意，鏖战不休。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic of loyalty and protective duty: elite warriors close ranks around their leader, showing how kṣatriya-dharma can manifest as organized guardianship—yet it also exposes the moral peril of war, where protection and strategy quickly become mutual intent to kill.
A group of prominent Kaurava-aligned fighters encircle Duryodhana to defend him. They then advance a short distance and begin close combat; immediately the Pāṇḍava and Kaurava forces engage with lethal determination.