Shloka 45
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
ते यूयं स्थाणुमीशानं जिष्णुमक्लिष्टकारिणम् | योद्धारं वृणुतादित्या: स तान् हन्ता सुरेतरान्
te yūyaṃ sthāṇum īśānaṃ jiṣṇum akliṣṭakāriṇam | yoddhāraṃ vṛṇutādityāḥ sa tān hantā suretarān | tapa ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ |
Duryodhana sprach: „O Söhne der Aditi, erwählt euch zum Streiter jenen Herrn — Sthāṇu, Īśāna — stets siegreich und unfehlbar im Handeln. Er allein vermag jene Feinde der Götter zu erschlagen. Denn man hört, dass, nachdem die Daityas bezwungen waren, die drei Söhne des Tārakāsura — Tārakākṣa, Kamalākṣa und Vidyunmālī — Zuflucht zu furchtbarer Askese nahmen und in der höchsten Zucht standhaft blieben. Darum setzt Mahādeva als euren Kämpfer ein; nur er ist imstande, solche Widersacher zu vernichten.“
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a mythic precedent to argue that extraordinary threats—especially those strengthened by severe tapas and strict vows—require an equally extraordinary, divinely sanctioned counterforce. It highlights the perceived efficacy of austerity and the need for rightful, capable leadership in confronting empowered adversaries.
Duryodhana cites a well-known account: after the Daityas were defeated, Tārakāsura’s three sons undertook fierce austerities and strict disciplines. On that basis he urges the Ādityas to choose Śiva (Sthāṇu/Īśāna/Mahādeva) as their champion, asserting that only he can destroy such formidable enemies of the gods.