Shloka 62
द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः
Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction
वृतः सहस्रैर्दशभिर्गजानामनिवर्तिनाम् | रथैश्व दशसाहसैस्तूर्ण याहि धनंजयम्,“मामा! तुम युद्धसे पीछे न हटनेवाले दस हजार हाथियों और उतने ही रथोंके साथ तुरंत ही अर्जुनका सामना करनेके लिये जाओ
sañjaya uvāca |
vṛtaḥ sahasrair daśabhir gajānām anivartinām |
rathaiś ca daśasāhasais tūrṇaṃ yāhi dhanañjayam ||
Sañjaya said: “Surrounded by ten thousand steadfast elephants, and by ten thousand chariots as well, go at once and confront Dhanañjaya (Arjuna).”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the martial ethic of unwavering resolve in battle: leaders issue urgent commands that appeal to steadfastness (anivartin) and massed force, reflecting how duty and ambition can drive escalation even when the moral cost is high.
Sañjaya reports an order to immediately engage Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), sending a large contingent—ten thousand elephants and ten thousand chariots—indicating a decisive attempt to check Arjuna’s momentum on the battlefield.