Shloka 14
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
तव च भ्रातर श्रेष्ठा दःशासनपुरोगमा: । त्वदर्थे प्रतियोत्स्यामो राक्षसं तं महाबलम्
tava ca bhrātaraḥ śreṣṭhā duḥśāsana-purogamāḥ | tvad-arthe pratiyotsyāmo rākṣasaṃ taṃ mahābalam, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya sprach: „Und deine vornehmsten Brüder, angeführt von Duḥśāsana, werden um deinetwillen gegen jenen übermächtigen Rākṣasa kämpfen.“ Nachdem er so geredet hatte, zog der schwer zu bezwingende Krieger immer wieder tief den Atem und berichtete den Vorgang—wie Ghaṭotkaca die Oberhand gewann und wie er selbst erniedrigt wurde—und mahnte den König, jenem grimmigen Wesen nicht unmittelbar entgegenzutreten, sondern die Last des Kampfes den großen Helden zu überlassen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent kingship in war: when a threat is extraordinary, a ruler should restrain personal impulse and rely on capable protectors and collective effort. It also reflects the ethical tension between pride and responsibility—accepting counsel and acting for the larger objective rather than ego.
Sañjaya reports that the speaker (in context, a Kaurava leader) declares that the king’s brothers, led by Duḥśāsana, will fight the mighty Rākṣasa (Ghaṭotkaca) on the king’s behalf. The warrior, repeatedly sighing, recounts Ghaṭotkaca’s victory and his own defeat, advising the king not to fight Ghaṭotkaca directly.