Shloka 39
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
पादाताशक्ष त्रिसाहस्रा द्रौपदेयाश्व॒ सर्वश: । रणे हाभ्यद्रवंस्ते तु शकुनिं युद्धदुर्मदम्
sañjaya uvāca | pādātāś ca trīsahasrā draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ | raṇe hy abhyadravaṃs te tu śakuniṃ yuddha-durmadam | tad-anantaraṃ dharmarāja-ājñayā dhanuḥ-pāṇayaḥ saptāśata-hastinaḥ pañca-sahasra-aśvārūḍhāḥ parākrama-sahadevaḥ trīsahasrāḥ pādātāś ca draupadyāḥ sarve putrāś ca—ete sarve raṇa-bhūmau yuddha-durmadam śakuniṃ prati abhyadravan |
三阇耶说道：于是战场之上，三千步卒与德劳帕蒂诸子尽皆冲向沙昆尼——他因战争的狂热而愈发骄横。其后，奉达摩罗阇之命，七百战象载弓手、五千骑兵、英勇的萨诃提婆、三千步卒以及德劳帕蒂诸子合为一军，齐越战场，直取沙昆尼。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the violence of war, action is portrayed as ethically structured by rightful command (Dharmarāja’s order) and disciplined purpose; the verse contrasts dharma-guided obedience and coordinated effort with the moral danger of war-intoxication (yuddha-durmada).
Sañjaya reports that, following Yudhiṣṭhira’s command, a combined force—elephants with bow-armed riders, cavalry, infantry, Sahadeva, and all of Draupadī’s sons—launches a concerted charge against Śakuni on the battlefield.