Shloka 18
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
वारयस्व रणे यत्तो मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् | “महाराज! तुम रणदुर्मद घटोत्कचका सामना करनेके लिये शीघ्र जाओ और समस्त धनुर्धरोंके देखते-देखते प्रयत्नपूर्वक उसे रणक्षेत्रमें आगे बढ़नेसे रोको || १७ है ।।
vārayasva raṇe yatto miṣatāṁ sarva-dhanvinām | rākṣasaṁ krūra-karmāṇaṁ yathendraḥ tārakaṁ purā, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya said: “Go forth at once in the battle and, before the eyes of all the bowmen, strive to check him. Restrain that rākṣasa of cruel deeds—just as Indra in former times stopped Tāraka’s advance.” Having spoken thus, the hard-to-overcome repeatedly heaved deep sighs, recounting again and again the rākṣasa’s victory and his own humiliation amid the great war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores kṣatriya-duty in crisis: a leader must act decisively to restrain a destructive threat, not merely for personal pride but to preserve order and protect the host. The Indra–Tāraka analogy frames rightful force as protective restraint rather than uncontrolled vengeance.
After suffering a setback at the hands of Ghaṭotkaca, Duryodhana—distressed and repeatedly sighing—approaches Bhīṣma and urges him to go quickly to the front and stop the rākṣasa’s advance in full view of the army, likening the needed intervention to Indra halting Tāraka in ancient times.