Shloka 42
भीष्मरक्षण-उद्योगः, शिखण्डि-विवर्जनं, सर्वतोभद्र-व्यूहः
Protection of Bhīṣma, Exemption of Śikhaṇḍin, and the Sarvatobhadra Array
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् | भृशं क्रोधेन चाविष्टो रथस्थो राक्षसाधिप:
sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito rathopastha upāviśat | bhṛśaṃ krodhena cāviṣṭo rathastho rākṣasādhipaḥ ||
Ia tertusuk dalam dan diguncang oleh rasa sakit, lalu terhempas duduk di kursi keretanya; namun sang penguasa rākṣasa, tetap di atas kereta, dikuasai amarah yang menyala-nyala.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield moral-psychological pattern: pain and injury can quickly transform into consuming anger. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical landscape, such krodha is repeatedly shown to cloud judgment and intensify violence, becoming a catalyst for further adharma and escalation.
Sañjaya describes a rākṣasa leader who has been grievously wounded. Overcome by pain, he slumps onto the chariot-seat, but instead of withdrawing, he remains on the chariot and becomes fiercely enraged, signaling a renewed, anger-driven response in the ongoing combat.