Shloka 70
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
कृत्वा घोरं महद् रूप॑ ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमे । अर्जुनस्य सुतं वीरमिरावन्तं यशस्विनम्,फरसेसे बारंबार छिदनेके कारण राक्षसके शरीरसे बहुत-सा रक्त बह गया। इससे राक्षस ऋष्यशृंगके बलवान पुत्र अलम्बुषने समरभूमिमें अत्यन्त क्रोध और वेग प्रकट किया। उसने युद्धस्थलमें अपने शत्रुको प्रबल हुआ देख अत्यन्त भयंकर एवं विशाल रूप धारण करके अर्जुनके वीर एवं यशस्वी पुत्र इरावानूको कैद करनेका प्रयत्न आरम्भ किया
kṛtvā ghoraṃ mahad rūpaṃ grahītum upacakrame | arjunasya sutaṃ vīram irāvantaṃ yaśasvinam ||
Sañjaya said: Having assumed a dreadful and enormous form, he set about to seize Irāvān, the valiant and renowned son of Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, power can be expressed not only through weapons but also through intimidation and overwhelming display. Ethically, it invites reflection on the slide from honorable combat toward coercive tactics such as capturing an opponent by terror and force—an escalation that tests the boundaries of dharma in battle.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior (implied from context) takes on a terrifying, gigantic form and begins an attempt to seize Irāvān, the brave and celebrated son of Arjuna, indicating a dramatic intensification of the fight around Irāvān.