Shloka 4
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
संजय उवाच यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं युद्धे चेष्टन्ति तावका: । दर्शयाना: परं शक््त्या पौरुषं पुरुषर्षभ,संजय बोले--पुरुषश्रेष्ठ! आपके पुत्र भी पूरी शक्तिसे पुरुषार्थ दिखाते हुए अपने बल और उत्साहके अनुसार युद्धमें सफलता प्राप्त करनेकी चेष्टा करते हैं
sañjaya uvāca yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ yuddhe ceṣṭanti tāvakāḥ | darśayānāḥ paraṃ śaktyā pauruṣaṃ puruṣarṣabha ||
Sañjaya said: “O bull among men, your own sons strive in battle according to their strength and according to their ardor, exerting themselves to the utmost and displaying their valor with all the power they can command.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined exertion: warriors act in proportion to their capacity and zeal, yet are urged to manifest their utmost valor. Ethically, it reflects the battlefield ideal of kṣatriya effort—doing one’s best within one’s limits—without yet judging the justice of the cause.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra about the Kaurava side: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and allies are actively striving in the war, attempting to gain success and demonstrating courage with all the strength they possess.