Shloka 3
अमोघशक्तिव्यंसनप्रश्नः — Why Karṇa’s Śakti Was Not Used on Arjuna
निहते सैन्धवे वीरे भूरिश्रवसि चैव ह । यदाभ्यगान्महातेजा: पञ्चालानपराजित:,सिंधुराज जयद्रथ तथा वीर भूरिश्रवाके मारे जानेपर अपराजित वीर महातेजस्वी द्रोणाचार्य जब पांचालोंकी सेनामें घुसे, उस समय शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले उन दुर्धर्ष वीरके प्रवेश कर लेनेपर दुर्योधनने उस अवसरके अनुरूप किस कार्यको मान्यता प्रदान की
nihate saindhave vīre bhūriśravasi caiva ha | yadābhyagān mahātejāḥ pañcālān aparājitaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “When the heroic king of Sindhu, Jayadratha, had been slain, and Bhūriśravas too had fallen—at that time, when the unconquered, mighty Drona advanced into the ranks of the Pāñcālas—what course of action did Duryodhana approve as fitting for that critical moment?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership in wartime: after major losses, a ruler must choose actions suited to the moment, balancing duty to one’s side with prudence and responsibility for further bloodshed.
After Jayadratha and Bhūriśravas are killed, Drona—still formidable—pushes into the Pāñcāla forces. Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks what decision Duryodhana endorsed in response to Drona’s aggressive advance at that turning point.