Shloka 20
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
त्वं तस्य नृपशार्दूल प्रतियोद्धा महाहवे । स्वबलेनोच्छितो राजज्जहि राक्षसपुज्रवम्,कथयामास दुर्धर्षो विनि:श्वस्य पुनः पुनः । संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला राजा दुर्योधन उस महान् युद्धमें एक राक्षसके द्वारा प्राप्त हुई अपनी पराजयको नहीं सह सका। उसने गंगानन्दन भीष्मजीके पास जाकर उन्हें विनीतभावसे प्रणाम करनेके पश्चात् सारा वृत्तान्त यथावत् रूपसे कह सुनाया। उस दुर्धर्ष वीरने बारंबार लम्बी साँस खींचकर घटोत्कचकी विजय और अपनी पराजयकी कथा कही “नृपश्रेष्ठट इस महायुद्धमें घटोत्कवका सामना करनेवाले योद्धा केवल तुम्हीं हो। राजन! तुम अपने ही बलसे उत्कर्षको प्राप्त होकर राक्षस-शिरोमणि घटोत्कचको मार डालो”
tvam tasya nṛpaśārdūla pratiyoddhā mahāhave | svabalenocchito rājan jahi rākṣasapuṅgavam, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya said: “O tiger among kings, in this great battle you alone are the warrior fit to meet him. O King, rising to eminence by your own strength, slay that foremost of Rākṣasas.” Thus spoke the hard-to-overcome Duryodhana, again and again heaving deep sighs, recounting the Rākṣasa’s victory and his own humiliation—urging Bhīṣma to restore the Kaurava cause by confronting and killing Ghaṭotkaca.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war leadership: a ruler’s pride and fear can drive urgent, even desperate, demands for decisive violence. It also underscores the Kṣatriya ideal of meeting a formidable foe with an equally capable champion, framing responsibility as personal strength and duty rather than excuses.
After suffering a setback at the hands of the Rākṣasa-hero Ghaṭotkaca, Duryodhana—distressed and repeatedly sighing—approaches Bhīṣma and urges him that only he can counter Ghaṭotkaca in the great war, asking him to kill the ‘foremost of Rākṣasas’ to protect the Kaurava side.