Shloka 176
भीमसेनस्य प्रतिघातः—भगदत्तगजप्रहारः—घटोत्कचमायायुद्धम्
Bhīma’s Counteroffensive, Bhagadatta’s Elephant Assault, and Ghaṭotkaca’s Māyā Engagement
सर्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता गोप्ता यस्य जनार्दन: । नरेश्वर! इरावानके बाद भीमसेनपुत्र घटोत्कच तथा महारथी केकय खड़े हुए। तत्पश्चात् मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन उस व्यूहके बायें पार्श्व या शिखरके स्थानमें खड़े हुए
sañjaya uvāca | sarvasya jagato goptā goptā yasya janārdanaḥ | nareśvara! irāvānake bādha bhīmasenaputra ghaṭotkaca tathā mahārathī kekaya khaḍe huye | tatpaścāt manuṣyeṣu śreṣṭha arjuna us vyūhake bāyeṃ pārśva yā śikharake sthāname khaḍe huye, jinake rakṣaka sampūrṇa jagat kā pālan karanevāle sākṣāt bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇa haiṃ ||
Sanjaya said: O king, after Iravan had been checked, Bhima’s son Ghatotkacha and the great chariot-warrior from Kekaya stood firm. Thereafter Arjuna, the best among men, took his position on the left flank—at the very crest of the battle-formation—protected by Janardana, the very Lord who safeguards and sustains the whole world.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical vision that righteous human effort in war (valor, discipline, strategic placement) gains legitimacy and steadiness when aligned with dharma and under the guardianship of the divine—here symbolized by Krishna as Janardana, the protector of the world and of Arjuna.
Sanjaya reports to the king that after Iravan is checked, Ghatotkacha and a great warrior from Kekaya hold their ground, and then Arjuna takes a key position on the left flank/crest of the battle formation, with Krishna explicitly described as his protector.