Shloka 38
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
ततः सा महती सेना कलिड्वानां जनेश्वर । भीममभ्युद्ययौ तूर्ण तव पुत्रस्य शासनात्,जनेश्वर! उस समय आपके पुत्रकी आज्ञासे कलिंगदेशीय वीरोंकी वह विशाल सेना तुरंत ही भीमसेनके सम्मुख आ पहुँची
tataḥ sā mahatī senā kaliṅgavānāṁ janeśvara | bhīmam abhyudyayau tūrṇaṁ tava putrasya śāsanāt ||
Sañjaya said: Then, O lord of men, that vast host of the Kaliṅga warriors swiftly advanced to confront Bhīma, acting under the command of your son. The scene shows how royal orders move entire armies, binding many to the consequences of a single ruler’s will amid war’s moral turbulence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of rulership: a king’s (or prince’s) command can propel multitudes into violence and its karmic consequences. It invites reflection on responsible authority, discernment in obedience, and how war magnifies the moral impact of decisions made at the top.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a large contingent of Kaliṅga warriors, acting on the order of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana), rapidly advances to engage Bhīma on the battlefield.