Shloka 37
ततो रथसहस्रेण पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अभ्ययात् पाण्डवं युद्धे राक्षसं च घटोत्कचम्,तदनन्तर आपका पुत्र दुर्योधन सहस्रों रथियोंके साथ पाण्डववंशी राक्षस घटोत्कचके साथ युद्ध करनेके लिये वहाँ आया
tato rathasahasreṇa putro duryodhanas tava | abhyayāt pāṇḍavaṁ yuddhe rākṣasaṁ ca ghaṭotkacam ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces tu hijo Duryodhana avanzó con mil carros, dispuesto a trabar combate con el rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca, aliado de los Pāṇḍava.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata: once war is chosen over conciliation, leaders are compelled into continual escalation. Power is met with greater power, and decisions become driven by fear, pride, and strategic necessity rather than by dharmic restraint.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana advances with a large chariot force to fight Ghaṭotkaca, the formidable rākṣasa ally fighting on the Pāṇḍava side.