Shloka 52
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
दृष्टवा55यातौ महावीर्यावुभौ कृष्णधनंजयौ । धृष्टद्युम्नवधे यत्नं चक्रे राजन् महाबल:
sañjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvā yātau mahāvīryāv ubhau kṛṣṇa-dhanañjayau |
dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadhe yatnaṃ cakre rājan mahābalaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô roi, voyant s’avancer les deux héros à la grande vaillance — Kṛṣṇa et Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) —, le très puissant Aśvatthāmā redoubla d’efforts pour tuer Dhṛṣṭadyumna.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the pressure of war, the sight of formidable opponents can intensify one’s resolve toward a specific act of violence. Ethically, it points to the danger of vengeance-driven focus—effort (yatna) becomes directed not toward restraint or reconciliation, but toward targeted killing, raising questions about dharma under extreme conflict.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna are approaching. Seeing them, Aśvatthāmā—described as very powerful—redoubles his attempt to kill Dhṛṣṭadyumna, indicating an imminent, intensified confrontation centered on Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s death.