Shloka 40
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
विकृष्य च शितं खड्गं गृहीत्वा च शरावरम् । पदातिर्द्रतमागच्छज्जिघांसु: सौबलान् युधि
vikṛṣya ca śitaṃ khaḍgaṃ gṛhītvā ca śarāvaram | padātir drutam āgacchaj jighāṃsuḥ saubalān yudhi ||
Lalu ia menghunus pedang tajam dan mengangkat perisai; Irāvān, bertempur sebagai prajurit pejalan kaki, menerjang cepat ke medan laga dengan niat menewaskan putra-putra Subala.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds intention (jighāṃsuḥ—desiring to kill) as a decisive inner force in war: even when action is socially sanctioned as kṣatriya-duty, the moral weight of violent intent remains palpable, reminding readers of the ethical gravity carried by each combatant’s resolve.
Sañjaya describes Irāvān drawing a sharp sword, taking a shield, and charging on foot toward the Saubalas in the midst of battle, determined to kill them.