Shloka 38
ज्येष्ठं मात्स्यमनृशंसार्यरूपं विराटपुत्र॑ रथिनं पुरस्तात् । यदा द्रष्टा दंशितं पाण्डवार्थे तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्,सौम्य तथा श्रेष्ठ स्वरूपवाले राजा विराटके ज्येष्ठ पुत्र मत्स्यदेशीय महारथी श्वेतको जब दुर्योधन पाण्डवोंके हितके लिये कवच धारण किये देखेगा, तब उसे युद्धका परिणाम सोचकर मन-ही-मन बड़ा कष्ट होगा
jyeṣṭhaṃ mātsyam anṛśaṃsārya-rūpaṃ virāṭa-putraṃ rathinaṃ purastāt | yadā draṣṭā daṃśitaṃ pāṇḍavārthe tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro ’nvatapsyat, saumya ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Di depan berdiri putra sulung Matsya—putra Virāṭa—seorang kesatria kereta yang unggul, luhur budi dan lembut tabiatnya. Ketika putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana) melihatnya bersenjata dan berzirah demi kepentingan Pāṇḍava, maka ia akan tersiksa dalam batin, karena telah membayangkan pahitnya akibat perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight of war: when righteous allies stand armed for a just cause, the aggressor is troubled by the anticipated consequences. It underscores that adharma-driven conflict brings inner torment even before the battle is fought.
Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the presence of Virāṭa’s eldest son, a noble chariot-warrior of Matsya, standing ready in support of the Pāṇḍavas. He predicts that Duryodhana, seeing this formidable ally armed for the Pāṇḍavas, will feel deep anxiety and distress about the war’s outcome.