Shloka 46
Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
एते हि बहव: शूरा: कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदा: । यथा हन्युर्न नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय,“हृषीकेश! जहाँ ये बहुत-से रथ जा रहे हैं, उधर ही अपने घोड़ोंको हाँकिये। माधव! ये अस्त्र-विद्याके विद्वान् तथा रण-दुर्मद बहुसंख्यक शूरवीर जिस प्रकार हमारी सेनाका विनाश न कर सकें, उसी तरह इस रथको वहाँ ले चलिये”
ete hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddha-durmadāḥ | yathā hanyur na naḥ senāṃ tathā mādhava codayā || hṛṣīkeśa! yatraite bahavo rathā yānti, tatrāśvān codayā | mādhava! ete astravidyā-vidaḥ raṇa-durmadā bahusaṅkhyakāḥ śūrāḥ yathā asmākaṃ senāyā vināśaṃ na kuryuḥ, tathā imaṃ rathaṃ tatra naya ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Sebab di sana ada banyak kesatria perkasa—terampil dalam senjata dan mabuk oleh amarah perang. Wahai Madhava, paculah kereta sedemikian rupa agar mereka tidak dapat membantai pasukan kita. Wahai Hrisikesha, ke arah tempat banyak kereta bergerak, doronglah kuda-kuda dan bawa kereta ini ke sana—agar para pahlawan yang banyak itu, mahir senjata dan mabuk oleh kebanggaan tempur, tidak mendatangkan kehancuran bagi bala kita.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield prudence and responsible leadership: recognizing the opponent’s capability (weapon-mastery and battle-pride) and positioning one’s forces so as to prevent needless destruction. It reflects the kṣatriya ethic of strategic action to protect one’s army while engaging in war.
Sanjaya narrates a command addressed to Krishna (as Mādhava/Hṛṣīkeśa), urging him to drive the horses and take the chariot toward the area where many enemy chariots are moving, with the tactical aim of preventing those formidable warriors from devastating ‘our’ army.