Shloka 44
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
“अतः राजन! तुम स्थिर होकर युद्धके विषयमें अपना दृढ़ निश्चय बना लो और स्वर्गको ही अन्तिम आश्रय मानकर रणभूमिमें पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्ध करो ।।
ataḥ rājan! tvaṃ sthiraḥ kṛtvā yuddhe viṣaye svāṃ dṛḍhāṃ matiṃ vidhatsva, svargam eva cāntimāśrayaṃ manyamāno raṇabhūmau pāṇḍavaiḥ saha yudhyasva. na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ sendrair api surāsuraiḥ; tasmād yuddhe sthirāṃ kṛtvā matiṃ yuddhyasva bhārata.
Darum, o König, fasse dich und bilde einen unerschütterlichen Entschluss hinsichtlich des Krieges. Nimm den Himmel als deine letzte Zuflucht und kämpfe auf dem Schlachtfeld gegen die Pāṇḍavas. Die Pāṇḍavas sind nicht zu besiegen — selbst wenn Götter und Asuras sich vereinten, mit Indra an der Spitze, könnten sie sie nicht überwinden. Darum, o Nachkomme Bharatas, mache zuerst deinen Geist kampffest und tritt dann in den Krieg ein.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses steadiness of mind and firm resolve in the face of inevitable outcomes. It also frames the warrior-ethic: if one chooses battle, one should do so with composure and with the traditional Kṣatriya horizon of honor and heaven—while acknowledging that the Pāṇḍavas’ victory is portrayed as divinely supported and thus practically unavoidable.
Sanjaya, reporting events and offering counsel to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, urges him to accept the reality of the coming conflict. He declares that the Pāṇḍavas are unconquerable even by a coalition of gods and asuras led by Indra, and therefore tells the king to steady his mind and commit to the course of war.