Shloka 5
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
निर्जितिषु च दैत्येषु तारकस्य सुतास्त्रय: । ताराक्ष: कमलाक्षश्न विद्युन्माली च पार्थिव
nirjitiṣu ca daityeṣu tārakasya sutās trayaḥ | tārākṣaḥ kamalākṣaś ca vidyunmālī ca pārthiva | nibodha manasā cātra na te kāryā vicāraṇā | tapo ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ |
दुर्योधन बोला—राजन्! दैत्यों के पराजित हो जाने पर, हे पार्थिव, तारक के तीन पुत्र थे—ताराक्ष, कमलाक्ष और विद्युन्माली। स्थिर मन से इसे सुनिए; इसमें संदेह न कीजिए। उन्होंने उग्र तप का आश्रय लेकर श्रेष्ठतम व्रत-नियमों में स्थित रहना आरम्भ किया।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata theme that intense resolve and disciplined observance (tapas and niyama) can become a powerful force after defeat; it also shows how a speaker tries to secure trust by urging the listener to set aside doubt and attend carefully.
Duryodhana introduces a past mythic episode: after the Daityas were defeated, Tārakāsura’s three sons—Tārākṣa, Kamalākṣa, and Vidyunmālī—undertook fierce austerities and strict vows. He frames it as reliable precedent and asks the king he addresses to listen without skepticism.