Shloka 3
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
संजय उवाच पुत्रेण तव राजेन्द्र स तथोक्तो महाबल: । महत्या सेनया गुप्त: प्रायाद् भीमरथं प्रति
sañjaya uvāca putreṇa tava rājendra sa tathokto mahābalaḥ | mahatyā senayā guptaḥ prāyād bhīmarathaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai raja, setelah menerima perintah yang disampaikan putramu, sang kesatria perkasa itu—terlindungi oleh bala tentara besar—maju menuju kereta Bhīma.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical reality of warfare in the epic: actions on the battlefield are propelled by royal command and allegiance, and even a ‘mighty’ warrior proceeds under the protection of an army—showing the interdependence of power, duty, and collective support.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, following the instruction issued through Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana), a powerful warrior—guarded by a large force—moves toward Bhīma’s chariot, indicating an impending engagement focused on Bhīma.