Shloka 59
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
ईशानायाप्रमेयाय नियन्त्रे चर्मवाससे । तपोरताय पिड्डाय व्रतिने कृत्तिवाससे
īśānāyāprameyāya niyantre carmavāsase | taporatāya piṅgalāya vratine kṛttivāsase ||
आप पूजनीय, शुद्ध और प्रलयकाल में संहार करने वाले हैं; आपको रोकना या पराजित करना अत्यन्त कठिन है। आप ईशान, अप्रमेय, नियन्ता, चर्मवस्त्रधारी, सदा तपस्यारत, पिङ्गलवर्ण, व्रतधारी और कृत्तिवासा हैं। आपको नमस्कार है।
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between human agency and a higher cosmic order: in the midst of war, Duryodhana turns to Śiva as the immeasurable controller (niyantṛ), implying that ultimate power and restraint lie beyond mere martial strength. Ethically, it shows how devotion can be invoked even by morally compromised actors, raising the question of whether prayer seeks transformation or merely advantage.
Duryodhana addresses Śiva with a string of epithets—Īśāna, Aprameya, Niyantṛ, Carmavāsas, Taporata, Piṅgala, Vratin, Kṛttivāsa—offering praise and salutation. The stuti functions as an appeal for divine attention and support during the intense events of the Karṇa Parva.