Shloka 16
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
भगदत्तो महीपाल: पुरन्दरसमो युधि । “यदि उस भयंकर राक्षसराज घटोत्कचपर तुम्हारा अधिक रोष है तो उस दुष्टके साथ युद्ध करनेके लिये राजा भगदत्त जायँ; क्योंकि युद्धमें ये इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी हैं! || १५६ || एतावदुक्त्वा राजानं भगदत्तमथाब्रवीत्
sañjaya uvāca |
bhagdatto mahīpālaḥ purandara-samo yudhi |
yadi te bhayaṅkara-rākṣasa-rāja ghaṭotkace 'dhiko roṣas tarhi tasya duṣṭasya saha yoddhuṃ rājā bhagdatto yātu, yasmād yuddhe 'yaṃ śakra-samo vīryavān iti ||
etāvad uktvā rājānaṃ bhagdattaṃ athābravīt; kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „König Bhagadatta ist im Kampf wie Purandara (Indra). Wenn dein Zorn gegen den schrecklichen Rākṣasa-König Ghaṭotkaca besonders groß ist, dann soll König Bhagadatta gegen jenen Frevler ziehen; denn im Krieg ist er so tapfer wie Indra.“ Nachdem er dies gesagt hatte, wandte sich Duryodhana an König Bhagadatta; und der schwer zu ertragende Krieger stieß wieder und wieder tiefe Seufzer aus, während er immer erneut erzählte, wie Ghaṭotkaca gesiegt und wie er selbst beschämt worden war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how anger born of wounded pride can distort judgment in war: counsel becomes driven by vengeance rather than dharmic restraint or clear strategy, escalating violence by seeking an ‘equal’ opponent to satisfy rage.
After suffering setbacks due to Ghaṭotkaca, Duryodhana urges that Bhagadatta—praised as Indra-like in battle—should be sent to fight him. Duryodhana, repeatedly sighing, recounts Ghaṭotkaca’s victory and his own humiliation, pressing for a forceful response.