Shloka 4
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
अद्य त्वां समरे हत्वा नित्यं शूराभिमानिनम् | नन्दयिष्यामि दाशार्ह कुरुराजं॑ सुयोधनम्,“दाशाई! तुम सदा अपनेको बड़ा शूरवीर मानते हो। आज मैं समरभूमिमें तुम्हारा वध करके कुरुराज दुर्योधनको आनन्दित करूँगा
adya tvāṃ samare hatvā nityaṃ śūrābhimāninam | nandayiṣyāmi dāśārha kururājaṃ suyodhanam ||
“Wahai Dāśārha, engkau yang selalu congkak akan kepahlawananmu—hari ini, setelah menewaskanmu di medan laga, akan kubuat Suyodhana, raja Kuru, bersukacita.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride in one’s own prowess (śūrābhimāna) and loyalty to a ruler can fuel violent resolve in war; it implicitly warns that self-conceit and partisan triumphalism intensify adharma-driven conflict rather than restrain it through dharma.
A warrior addresses Dāśārha (Kṛṣṇa) with a battlefield threat: he vows to kill the opponent ‘today’ and thereby bring joy to Suyodhana (Duryodhana), the Kuru king—framing the impending combat as a deed meant to please his sovereign.