Shloka 39
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
व्यवच्छिद्य तु राजानं भगदत्तं युधिष्ठिर:
vyavacchidya tu rājānaṃ bhagadattaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
Sañjaya dit : Alors Yudhiṣṭhira, ayant tranché et isolé le roi Bhagadatta de ses troupes de soutien, s’avança pour le contenir—geste de prudente royauté au cœur de la guerre, visant à neutraliser une menace redoutable sans semer un trouble superflu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent conflict, righteous leadership expresses itself through restraint and clarity of purpose: isolating a dangerous opponent is a measured strategy that limits wider harm and prevents chaos, aligning martial action with responsible kingship.
Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira acts against King Bhagadatta by separating him from his support—suggesting a tactical move on the battlefield to neutralize Bhagadatta’s threat and control the flow of combat.