Shloka 30
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
भैमसेनिं रथस्थं तु तत्रापश्याम भारत । शेषा विमनसो भूत्वा प्राद्रवन्त महारथा:,भरतनन्दन! उस समय वहाँ हमलोगोंने केवल भीमपुत्र घटोत्कचको ही रथपर स्थिरभावसे बैठा देखा। शेष महारथी खिन्नचित्त होकर वहींसे भाग रहे थे
bhaimaseniṁ rathasthaṁ tu tatrāpaśyāma bhārata | śeṣā vimanaso bhūtvā prādravanta mahārathāḥ ||
Sañjaya dijo: Oh Bhārata, allí vimos únicamente a Ghaṭotkaca, hijo de Bhīma, sentado con firmeza en su carro. Los demás grandes guerreros de carro, con el ánimo abatido, huyeron de aquel lugar.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical contrast between steadfast courage and demoralized retreat in war: a single warrior remains firm while others, losing heart, withdraw. It implicitly praises steadiness (dhairya) and resolve in the face of fear, qualities expected of kṣatriya conduct on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, at that moment in the battle, only Ghaṭotkaca (Bhīma’s son) is seen holding his position on his chariot, while the remaining great warriors have become dispirited and are fleeing from the spot.