Shloka 186
भीमसेनस्य प्रतिघातः—भगदत्तगजप्रहारः—घटोत्कचमायायुद्धम्
Bhīma’s Counteroffensive, Bhagadatta’s Elephant Assault, and Ghaṭotkaca’s Māyā Engagement
वधार्थ तव पुत्राणां तत्पक्ष॑ं ये च सड़ता: । इस प्रकार पाण्डवोंने आपके पुत्रों तथा उनके पक्षमें आये हुए अन्यान्य भूपालोंके वधके लिये इस महाव्यूहकी रचना की
vadhārthaṃ tava putrāṇāṃ tatpakṣaṃ ye ca saṅgatāḥ |
Sañjaya said: “With the aim of slaying your sons—and also those who have joined their side—the Pāṇḍavas arranged this great battle-formation.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in dharma-yuddha the outward form of strategy (vyūha) is inseparable from moral alignment: those who choose a side accept the consequences of that choice, and the Pāṇḍavas’ formation is explicitly aimed at ending the threat posed by the Kaurava camp.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas have organized a major battle-array specifically to kill Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and the kings and warriors who have allied themselves with them.