Shloka 1
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
ऑपन--माज छा -जड:: तग्रयस्शीतितमो<ध्याय: इरावानके द्वारा विन्दर और अनुविन्दकी पराजय, भगदत्तसे घटोत्कचका हारना तथा मद्रराजपर नकुल और सहदेवकी विजय धृतराष्ट्र रवाच बहूनि हि विचित्राणि द्वैरथानि सम संजय । पाण्डूनां मामकै: सार्थमश्रीषं तव जल्पत:,धृतराष्ट्र बोले--संजय! मैंने तुम्हारे मुखसे अबतक पाण्डवोंके मेरे पुत्रोंके साथ जो बहुत-से विचित्र द्वैरथ युद्ध हुए हैं, उनका वर्णन सुना
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | bahūni hi vicitrāṇi dvairathāni samaṃjaya | pāṇḍūnāṃ māmakaiḥ sārtham aśrauṣaṃ tava jalpataḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Sañjaya, I have heard from your narration of many wondrous single-chariot duels fought between the sons of Pāṇḍu and my own men. Continue to recount them.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war is framed through selective hearing and attachment: Dhṛtarāṣṭra identifies the Kaurava side as “mine” (māmakāḥ), revealing possessiveness that clouds judgment, while also showing the epic’s ethical method—events are mediated through responsible narration (Sañjaya) and inquiry.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Sañjaya and says he has already heard many remarkable chariot-duels between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas from Sañjaya’s ongoing report, setting up the continuation of the battle description in this chapter.