Shloka 2
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर पाण्डव-सेनाके उत्तर भागमें दण्डधारके द्वारा मारे जाते हुए रथी, हाथी, घोड़े और पैदलोंका आर्तनाद गूँज उठा ।।
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! tad-anantaraṁ pāṇḍava-senāke uttara-bhāge daṇḍadhārake dvārā māryamāṇeṣu rathīṣu hastīṣu aśveṣu ca padātiṣu cārtanādo ghoṣaṁ lebhe. nivartayitvā tu rathaṁ keśavo ’rjunam abravīt, vāhayann eva turagān garuḍānilaraṁhasaḥ—tasmin kāle bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ sva-rathaṁ nivartya garuḍa-vāyu-sadṛśa-vega-vatāṁ aśvān vāhayann arjunam uvāca.
Sañjaya dit : Ô roi, ensuite, dans le secteur nord de l’armée des Pāṇḍava, un grand cri de détresse retentit, tandis que guerriers de char, éléphants, chevaux et fantassins tombaient sous le porteur du bâton. Alors Keśava, ayant fait virer le char, parla à Arjuna tout en menant encore les chevaux, rapides comme Garuḍa et le vent ; en cet instant, le Seigneur Kṛṣṇa, retournant son char au cœur de la mêlée, s’adressa à Pārtha avec vigilance et dessein.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the most violent confusion of war, right action requires alert leadership and purposeful guidance. Krishna’s act of turning the chariot and speaking while still driving underscores dharma as disciplined, timely decision-making rather than hesitation—protecting one’s side and responding to unfolding harm with clarity.
A fierce assault in the Pandava army’s northern sector causes widespread casualties and a loud collective wail. In response, Krishna reverses the chariot and, without pausing the maneuver, addresses Arjuna—setting up immediate tactical or moral instruction in the midst of the battle.