Shloka 3
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
तांस्तु शूरान् महेष्वासान् क्रूरं कर्म चिकीर्षत: । दृष्टवा दुर्योधनस्तूर्ण स्वसैन्यं समचूचुदत्,उन महाथनुर्थधर शूरवीरोंको क्रूर कर्म करनेके लिये उत्सुक देख दुर्योधनने तुरंत ही अपनी सेनाको इस प्रकार आज्ञा दी--
tāṁs tu śūrān maheṣvāsān krūraṁ karma cikīrṣataḥ | dṛṣṭvā duryodhanas tūrṇaṁ svasainyaṁ samacūcudat ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Als Duryodhana jene Helden, die großen Bogenschützen, sah, wie sie begierig waren, ein grausames Werk zu vollbringen, erteilte er sogleich seinem Heer Befehle, und zwar wie folgt—“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension in warfare: when warriors become intent on a 'krūra karma' (ruthless act), a leader’s immediate response—here, Duryodhana’s swift command—can either restrain violence or accelerate it. It invites reflection on responsibility and ethical limits even amid conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana observes his formidable archers and heroes ready to carry out a harsh action, and he promptly issues instructions to his own troops, setting the Kaurava side in motion for the next tactical step.