Shloka 8
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
राक्षसापसदं हन्तुं स्वयमेव पितामह । त्वां समाश्रित्य दुर्धर्ष तन्मे कर्तु त्वमहसि
sañjaya uvāca | rākṣasāpasadaṁ hantuṁ svayam eva pitāmaha | tvāṁ samāśritya durdharṣa tan me kartu tvam arhasi | kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya sprach: „O Großvater, ich selbst wünsche jenen niederträchtigen Ausgestoßenen unter den Rākṣasas zu erschlagen. Auf dich gestützt, o Unbezwingbarer, sollst du mir helfen, dies zu vollbringen.“ So sprach der schwer Bezwingbare Duryodhana und stieß immer wieder tiefe Seufzer aus — getrieben vom Stachel der Demütigung und vom Verlangen, mit Bhīṣmas Beistand seine Stellung im Krieg wiederherzustellen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wounded pride and the urge to restore honor can drive a warrior toward vengeance, and how such impulses seek validation through authority (here, Bhīṣma). Ethically, it points to the danger of letting humiliation govern action, especially in war where dharma is already strained.
After suffering a setback at the hands of a rākṣasa warrior (understood in context as Ghaṭotkaca), Duryodhana approaches Bhīṣma, addresses him as ‘Grandfather,’ and asks for support to personally kill the rākṣasa. Sanjaya reports Duryodhana’s repeated sighs, signaling distress and agitation.