Shloka 1
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ३० “लोक हैं।) ऑपन-माज बछ। अति ऋाण एकोननवतितमो<ध्याय: अर्जुनके द्वारा दुर्मरषणकी गजसेनाका संहार और समस्त सैनिकोंका पलायन अजुन उवाच चोदयाश्वान् हृषीकेश यत्र दुर्मर्षण: स्थित: । एतदू भित्त्वा गजानीकं प्रवेक्ष्याम्यरिवाहिनीम्
arjuna uvāca
codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ |
etad bhittvā gajāṇīkaṁ pravekṣyāmy arivāhinīm ||
Arjuna berkata: “Wahai Hṛṣīkeśa, paculah kuda-kuda ke tempat Durmarṣaṇa berdiri. Setelah menerobos pasukan gajah ini, aku akan memasuki bala tentara musuh.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast performance of duty under pressure: Arjuna commits to decisive action in battle, trusting his charioteer-guide (Kṛṣṇa) and focusing on a clear objective. It reflects the epic’s emphasis on disciplined resolve aligned with one’s role (kṣatriya-dharma).
Arjuna instructs Kṛṣṇa to drive the chariot toward the position of the Kaurava warrior Durmarṣaṇa. He declares his intent to smash through the enemy elephant formation and penetrate deeper into the opposing army to engage the foe directly.