Shloka 199
यदाश्रौष॑ देवराजेन दत्तां दिव्यां शक्ति व्यंसितां माधवेन । घटोत्कचे राक्षसे घोररूपे तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,संजय! देवराज इन्द्रने कर्णको कवचके बदले एक दिव्य शक्ति दे रखी थी और उसने उसे अर्जुनपर प्रयुक्त करनेके लिये रख छोड़ा था; परंतु मायापति श्रीकृष्णने भयंकर राक्षस घटोत्कचपर छुड़वाकर उससे भी वंचित करवा दिया। जिस समय यह बात मैंने सुनी, उसी समय मेरी विजयकी आशा टूट गयी
yadāśrauṣaṃ devarājena dattāṃ divyāṃ śaktiṃ vyaṃsitāṃ mādhavena | ghaṭotkace rākṣase ghorarūpe tadā nāśaṃse vijayāya saṃjaya saṃjaya ||
Sañjaya! When I heard that the divine weapon—the Śakti granted by Indra, king of the gods—had been rendered futile by Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa), being discharged upon the fearsome Rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca, then in that very moment my hope of victory collapsed.
Educational Q&A
Reliance on extraordinary boons and weapons is unstable: a single counter-move guided by higher strategy can neutralize even divine advantages, reminding leaders that confidence must rest on dharma, sound counsel, and adaptable judgment rather than on one decisive trump card.
The speaker says that upon hearing the divine Śakti—granted by Indra—was expended on the terrifying Rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca due to Mādhava’s intervention, he immediately lost hope of victory, since that weapon was being preserved for a decisive strike (notably against Arjuna).