Shloka 596
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
सगजं भगदत्तं तु हन्तुकाम: परंतप: । शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले घटोत्कचने अपने हाथीको गजारूढ़ राजा भगदत्तकी ओर बढ़ाया। वह उन्हें हाथीसहित मार डालना चाहता था
sagajaṃ bhagadattaṃ tu hantukāmaḥ paraṃtapaḥ | śatrūṇāṃ santāpa-dātā ghaṭotkacaḥ svahastinaṃ gajāruḍhaṃ rājānaṃ bhagadattaṃ prati prāpayām āsa; sa taṃ hastinā saha nihantuṃ cikīrṣuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Ghaṭotkaca, a fierce tormentor of enemies, drove his own elephant straight toward King Bhagadatta who was mounted on his elephant. Intent on ending the threat at its source, he sought to slay Bhagadatta together with his war-elephant—an act reflecting the ruthless calculus of battlefield duty where eliminating a powerful commander is seen as a grim necessity.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical terrain of war (kṣatriya-dharma): a warrior may focus on neutralizing the most dangerous opponent, even if it entails extreme violence. It underscores strategic necessity and the grim responsibility borne in battle, rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca advances on his elephant toward Bhagadatta, who is also on an elephant, with the clear intention of killing Bhagadatta along with his mount—setting up a direct, high-stakes confrontation between two formidable fighters.