Shloka 22
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — इरावान्-आवन्त्ययोः युद्धम्, घटोत्कच-भगदत्त-संघर्षः, मद्रेश्वर-विक्षेपः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Irāvān vs the Avanti princes; Ghaṭotkaca vs Bhagadatta; Śalya checked by the Mādrī twins
विपरीतमिदं सर्व प्रतिभाति हि संजय । यत्रेदृशं॑ बल॑ घोरं पाण्डवान्नातरद् रणे,संजय! यह सब कुछ मुझे विपरीत जान पड़ता है कि ऐसा भयंकर सैन्यसमूह भी वहाँ युद्धमें पाण्डवोंसे पार नहीं पा सका
viparītam idaṁ sarvaṁ pratibhāti hi sañjaya | yatr̥dṛśaṁ balaṁ ghoraṁ pāṇḍavān nātarad raṇe ||
Sañjaya said: “All this appears utterly contrary to expectation to me, O Sañjaya—how could such a dreadful mass of strength, there on the battlefield, fail to overcome the Pāṇḍavas?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the shock of an outcome that defies ordinary calculations of power: sheer military might does not guarantee victory. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, success in war is intertwined with dharma, leadership, and unseen factors (daiva), not merely numbers and ferocity.
Sañjaya reports an astonished reaction to the battlefield situation: despite the presence of a terrifying and powerful force, it could not ‘cross over’ or overpower the Pāṇḍavas in combat. The line underscores the unexpected resilience/effectiveness of the Pāṇḍava side at this point in the war.