Shloka 21
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
तस्मिन् प्रमथिते सैन्ये भगदत्तो नराधिप: । तेन नागेन सहसा धनंजयमुपाद्रवत्
tasmin pramathite sainye bhagadatto narādhipaḥ | tena nāgena sahasā dhanañjayam upādravat ||
Sañjaya dit : Quand l’armée fut jetée dans la confusion, le roi Bhagadatta, juché sur cet éléphant, se rua soudain sur Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). Au cœur d’une ligne de bataille qui s’effondrait, ce souverain aguerri voulut renverser le cours du combat par une attaque frontale et impérieuse—preuve que la guerre éprouve sans cesse la constance, le commandement et la maîtrise de soi sous la pression.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, when collective order breaks down, decisive leadership and personal valor become pivotal. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal of confronting danger directly, while also reminding that sudden, force-driven actions in war can intensify chaos and demand heightened discipline and discernment.
As the battlefield formation becomes disturbed, Bhagadatta—an experienced king fighting for the Kauravas—mounts his elephant and makes a sudden charge toward Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), aiming to strike a key warrior and reverse the momentum.