Shloka 37
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 155 — Ghaṭotkaca-nidhana-śoka and Karṇa-śakti-vyaya
Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance
वृत्रहत्यै यथा देवा: परिवत्रु: पुरंदरम् । फिर तो भागे हुए पाण्डव-योद्धा लौट आये और युधिष्ठिरको वैसे ही घेरकर खड़े हो गये, जैसे वृत्रासुरके वधके लिये सब देवता इन्द्रको घेरकर खड़े हुए थे ।। ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा तव पुत्रस्य मारिष । शरं च सूर्यरश्म्याभमत्युग्रमनिवारणम्
vṛtrahatyai yathā devāḥ parivavruḥ purandaram | tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā tava putrasya māriṣa | śaraṃ ca sūryaraśmyābham atyugram anivāraṇam ||
Seperti para dewa dahulu mengepung Purandara (Indra) demi membunuh Vṛtra, demikian pula para kesatria Pāṇḍava—yang telah berhenti lari dan berbalik—berdiri melingkari Raja Yudhiṣṭhira. Lalu, wahai yang mulia, Yudhiṣṭhira di hadapan putramu mengangkat sebuah anak panah yang menyala laksana sinar matahari—amat dahsyat dan tak terhalaukan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical pivot from panic to steadfast duty: when fear causes retreat, righteous leadership and collective support can restore resolve. The divine analogy (gods aiding Indra) frames courage and coordinated action as necessary for confronting overwhelming threats.
The Pāṇḍava fighters, who had begun to flee, return and form a protective circle around Yudhiṣṭhira. Yudhiṣṭhira then prepares a blazing, irresistible arrow against the opposing side (addressed as ‘your son’), indicating the battle’s momentum shifting back toward determined engagement.