Shloka 20
विजितस्तव पुत्रोडपि भीष्मबाहुव्यपाश्रय:,भीष्मकी भुजाओंके आश्रयमें रहनेवाला आपका मदोन्मत्त पुत्र दुःशासन पराजित होनेपर भी बार-बार सुस्ताकर बड़े वेगसे युद्ध करता था। राजन! अर्जुन उस रफक्षेत्रमें युद्ध करते हुए बड़ी शोभा पा रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | vijitas tava putro 'pi bhīṣma-bāhu-vyapāśrayaḥ, bhīṣmasya bhujayoḥ āśraye vartamānaḥ tava madonmattaḥ putro duḥśāsanaḥ parājito 'pi punaḥ punaḥ saṃstabhya mahā-vegena yuddham akarot | rājan, arjunaḥ tasmin raṇa-kṣetre yuddham kurvan mahāṃ śobhām avāpa |
Sanjaya said: Even when defeated, your son—Duhshasana—intoxicated with pride and relying on the mighty arms of Bhishma, repeatedly steadied himself and rushed back into battle with great force. O King, Arjuna, fighting on that battlefield, shone with conspicuous splendour—his prowess standing out amid the clash of arms.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two inner drives in war: arrogant persistence that leans on another’s might (Duhshasana relying on Bhishma) versus earned radiance through skill and steadfast action (Arjuna’s conspicuous splendour). It implicitly warns that pride and borrowed strength can fuel reckless repetition, while true excellence manifests as clarity and distinction amid chaos.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Duhshasana, though repeatedly defeated, keeps regaining composure and charging back into combat under the protective support of Bhishma. At the same time, Arjuna is described as standing out brilliantly on the battlefield through his fighting.