Shloka 43
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
ब्रह्म॒दण्ड: कालदण्डो रुद्रदण्डस्तथा ज्वर: | परिस्कन्दा रथस्यासन् सर्वतोदिशमुद्यता:,तत्पश्चात् ब्रह्मदण्ड, कालदण्ड, रुद्रदण्ड तथा ज्वर--ये उस रथके पार्श्वरक्षक बनकर चारों ओर शस्त्र लेकर खड़े हो गये
brahmadaṇḍaḥ kāladaṇḍo rudradaṇḍas tathā jvaraḥ | pariskandā rathasyāsan sarvato diśam udyatāḥ ||
Duryodhana said: “Brahmadaṇḍa, Kāladaṇḍa, Rudradaṇḍa, and Jvara—these stood as the chariot’s flank-guards, weapons raised, vigilant in every direction.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a war-time psychology in which security is sought through daṇḍa—punitive, fear-inducing power—rather than through inner discipline and dharmic conduct. It implicitly contrasts coercive protection with the steadier protection that comes from righteousness and self-restraint.
Duryodhana describes formidable, personified forces—Brahmadaṇḍa, Kāladaṇḍa, Rudradaṇḍa, and Jvara—standing around a chariot as vigilant flank-guards, weapons raised, covering all directions as protective attendants in the battle setting.