Shloka 21
Ghaṭotkaca Slays Alāyudha (Night Battle and Māyā Countermeasures) / घटोत्कचेन अलायुधवधः
यत्ता: सर्वे पराभूता: पर्यवारयतार्डर्जुनम् । सिन्धुराजानमश्रित्य स वो मध्ये कथं हतः,तुम सब लोगोंने बड़ी सावधानीसे अर्जुनको घेर लिया था। फिर सब-के-सब पराजित कैसे हो गये? तुमने सिंधुराजको आश्रय दिया था। फिर तुम्हारे बीचमें वह कैसे मारा गया?
sañjaya uvāca | yattāḥ sarve parābhūtāḥ paryavārayatārḍārjunam | sindhurājānam āśritya sa vo madhye kathaṃ hataḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Walau kalian semua sepenuhnya waspada dan telah mengepung Arjuna dari segala sisi, bagaimana kalian tetap berakhir kalah? Dan meski berlindung di balik raja Sindhu, bagaimana ia terbunuh tepat di tengah-tengah kalian?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between human planning and moral consequence: even careful strategy and numerical advantage can fail when opposed by superior prowess and the momentum of righteous retribution. It underscores accountability in war—protecting an offender does not guarantee safety from the results of his deeds.
Sanjaya challenges the Kaurava side’s account: despite their vigilant encirclement of Arjuna and their reliance on the Sindhu king (Jayadratha) as a protected center, they were routed and Jayadratha was killed within their formation. The question points to the collapse of their defensive arrangement and Arjuna’s breakthrough.