Shloka 19
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
छिन्नायुधं शान्तनवेन राजा शिखण्डिन प्रेक्ष्य च जातकोप: । अजातशगत्रुः समरे महात्मा शिखण्डिनं क्रुद्ध उवाच वाक्यम्,शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने जब शिखण्डीका धनुष काट दिया,- तब समरांगणमें अजातशत्रु महात्मा युधिष्ठिर शिखण्डीकी ओर देखकर कुपित हो उठे और उससे क्रोधपूर्वक इस प्रकार बोले--
chinnāyudhaṁ śāntanavena rājā śikhaṇḍinaṁ prekṣya ca jātakopaḥ | ajātaśatruḥ samare mahātmā śikhaṇḍinaṁ kruddha uvāca vākyam ||
Als er sah, dass der Śāntanava (Bhīṣma) Śikhaṇḍins Waffe zerschlagen hatte, wurde König Ajātaśatru—der hochgesinnte Yudhiṣṭhira—auf dem Schlachtfeld von Zorn ergriffen. Er richtete den Blick auf Śikhaṇḍin und sprach zu ihm in wütenden Worten.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a naturally gentle and righteous leader (Ajātaśatru Yudhiṣṭhira) may be driven to stern speech when dharma is endangered in crisis. The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: responsibility to the cause and to one’s role can demand accountability, yet anger must be handled carefully because it can cloud judgment.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma (the Śāntanava) has cut down Śikhaṇḍin’s weapon, leaving him effectively disarmed. Seeing this setback in the attempt to confront Bhīṣma, Yudhiṣṭhira becomes angry, looks at Śikhaṇḍin, and begins to address him harshly.