Shloka 7
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
शिखण्डी कृतवर्माणं गौतमं च महारथम् | प्रभद्रकै: समायुक्तो योधयामास धन्विनौ,दूसरी ओर शिखण्डीने प्रभद्रकोंकी सेना साथ लेकर कृतवर्मा और महारथी कृपाचार्य --इन दोनों धनुर्धरोंसे युद्ध छेड़ दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
śikhaṇḍī kṛtavarmāṇaṃ gautamaṃ ca mahāratham |
prabhadrakaiḥ samāyukto yodhayāmāsa dhanvinau ||
三阇耶说道：随后，尸建陀（Śikhaṇḍī）在普罗婆陀罗迦（Prabhadraka）军的支援下，与两位弓手交战——克利多跋摩（Kṛtavarmā）以及大车战士瞿多摩（Gautama，即克利波阿阇梨 Kṛpācārya）。于是，在战争无情的驱迫中，敌对的豪杰被推向对决，各自为誓盟与武士之责所系。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of allegiance and kṣatriya-duty in war: warriors are drawn into combat not merely by personal choice but by their roles, loyalties, and the collective momentum of the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍī, backed by the Prabhadraka troops, initiates combat against two prominent Kaurava archers—Kṛtavarmā and Kṛpācārya (called Gautama), both described as formidable fighters.