Shloka 20
स तेन वरदानेन दिव्येनास्त्रबलेन च । एक: संवारयामास पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्,अभ्यद्रवन् परीप्सन्तो व्यूढानीका: प्रहारिण: । संजयने कहा--राजन! युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, शिखण्डी, सात्यकि, नकुल-सहदेव, धष्टद्युम्न, विराट, द्रपद, केकय-राजकुमार, रोषमें भरा हुआ धृष्टकेतु तथा मत्स्यदेशीय योद्धा --ये सब-के-सब युद्धस्थलमें आगे बढ़े। अभिमन्युके ताऊ, चाचा तथा मामागण अपनी सेनाको व्यूहद्वारा संगठित करके प्रहार करनेके लिये उद्यत हो अभिमन्युकी रक्षाके लिये उसीके बनाये हुए मार्गसे व्यूहमें जानेके उद्देश्यसे एक साथ दौड़ पड़े उसी वरदानसे अपने दिव्य अस्त्र-बलके द्वारा जयद्रथने अकेले ही पाण्डवोंकी सेनाको रोक दिया
sa tena varadānena divyenāstrabalena ca | ekaḥ saṃvārayāmāsa pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm, abhyadravan parīpsanto vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ |
Sañjaya said: O King, empowered by that divine boon and by the might of celestial weapons, he alone held back the Pāṇḍavas’ army, even as the striking warriors—having marshalled their forces in battle-array—charged forward, intent on breaking through. The scene underscores how a single advantage, when joined to martial skill, can obstruct even a righteous cause in the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power gained through boons and weapons can temporarily block even a determined, duty-driven force; in war, outcomes are shaped not only by righteousness but also by granted advantages, strategy, and circumstance.
As the Pandava warriors surge forward in organized battle-array to break through, Jayadratha—strengthened by a divine boon and celestial weapon-power—single-handedly checks and holds back their army.