Shloka 21
सर्वक्षत्रस्य मिषतो रथेनैकेन दंशितौ । बाल: क्रीडनकेनेव कदर्थीकृत्य नो बलम्,हमलोग चीखते-चिल्लाते तथा रोकनेकी चेष्टा करते ही रह गये; परंतु कुछ न हो सका। शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले कवचधारी श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन हम सब क्षत्रियोंके देखते-देखते हमारे बलकी अवहेलना करके एकमात्र रथके द्वारा सम्पूर्ण राजमण्डलीमें अपना पराक्रम दिखाकर उसी प्रकार बेरोक-टोक आगे बढ़ गये हैं, जैसे बालक खिलौनोंसे खेलता हुआ निकल जाता है
saṃjaya uvāca | sarvakṣatrasya miṣato rathenaikena daṃśitau | bālaḥ krīḍanakeneva kadarthīkṛtya no balam ||
Sanjaya said: “Before the very eyes of all the Kshatriyas, those two—armoured and fierce—have, with a single chariot, humiliated our forces. As a child toys with playthings, so have they treated our strength with contempt and moved on unhindered, displaying their prowess amid the assembled kings.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the fragility of collective pride and mere numerical strength: disciplined prowess and strategic superiority can render a vast force ineffective, exposing the ethical lesson that arrogance in power is easily humbled.
Sanjaya reports that, in full view of the assembled Kshatriya warriors, two armoured heroes advance with a single chariot, brushing aside resistance and effectively humiliating the opposing army, likened to a child casually playing with toys.