Shloka 4
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
दीर्यते चोत्तरेणैव तत् सैन्यं मधुसूदन । द्वैधीभूतं मनो मेड्द्य कृतं संशप्तकैरिदम्,“उधर उत्तर दिशाकी ओर अपनी सेनाका नाश किया जा रहा है। मधुसूदन! इन संशप्तकोंने आज मेरे मनको दुविधामें डाल दिया है
dīryate cottareṇaiva tat sainyaṃ madhusūdana | dvaidhībhūtaṃ mano me 'dya kṛtaṃ saṃśaptakair idam ||
“Wahai Madhusūdana, di sana—terutama di sisi utara—pasukan kita sedang terkoyak. Hari ini para Saṁśaptaka ini membuat batinku terbelah dalam keraguan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological strain of war: even an informed narrator like Sañjaya experiences inner division when confronted with vowed, relentless fighters. It underscores how vows and collective resolve (like that of the Saṃśaptakas) can intensify conflict and destabilize judgment, testing steadiness (dhairya) and discernment (viveka).
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the army is being shattered on the northern flank. He addresses Kṛṣṇa as Madhusūdana and admits that the actions and determination of the Saṃśaptakas have made him uncertain and mentally divided about the battle’s outcome.