Shloka 18
Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam
कर्मणा तेन पार्थस्य तुतुषुर्देवदानवा: । अथ क्ुद्धो रणे पार्थस्त्रिगर्तान् प्रति भारत
sañjaya uvāca | karmaṇā tena pārthasya tutuṣur devadānavāḥ | atha kruddho raṇe pārthas trigartān prati bhārata | pātayan vai tarugaṇān viniṣṇanś caiva sainikān ||
Sañjaya said: By that deed of Pārtha, both the gods and the Dānavas were gratified. Then, O Bhārata, Pārtha—angered in the midst of battle—turned against the Trigartas; causing masses of trees to fall and shattering the soldiers, he struck them down.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary martial excellence can be recognized even by opposing cosmic powers, yet it also implicitly warns that anger in war tends to magnify destruction beyond a single target—raising ethical awareness about the force one unleashes, even while fulfilling kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna’s feat delights both devas and dānavas; immediately after, Arjuna—enraged—turns upon the Trigarta forces and strikes them down with overwhelming power, felling trees and crushing soldiers on the battlefield.