Shloka 46
Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
एते हि बहव: शूरा: कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदा: । यथा हन्युर्न नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय,“हृषीकेश! जहाँ ये बहुत-से रथ जा रहे हैं, उधर ही अपने घोड़ोंको हाँकिये। माधव! ये अस्त्र-विद्याके विद्वान् तथा रण-दुर्मद बहुसंख्यक शूरवीर जिस प्रकार हमारी सेनाका विनाश न कर सकें, उसी तरह इस रथको वहाँ ले चलिये”
ete hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddha-durmadāḥ | yathā hanyur na naḥ senāṃ tathā mādhava codayā || hṛṣīkeśa! yatraite bahavo rathā yānti, tatrāśvān codayā | mādhava! ete astravidyā-vidaḥ raṇa-durmadā bahusaṅkhyakāḥ śūrāḥ yathā asmākaṃ senāyā vināśaṃ na kuryuḥ, tathā imaṃ rathaṃ tatra naya ||
Sanjaya said: “For there are many valiant warriors—masters of weapons and intoxicated with the fury of battle. O Madhava, drive the chariot in such a way that they may not be able to strike down our army. Hrishikesha, where those many chariots are moving, urge the horses and take this chariot there—so that these numerous, weapon-skilled heroes, drunk with the pride of combat, do not bring ruin upon our forces.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield prudence and responsible leadership: recognizing the opponent’s capability (weapon-mastery and battle-pride) and positioning one’s forces so as to prevent needless destruction. It reflects the kṣatriya ethic of strategic action to protect one’s army while engaging in war.
Sanjaya narrates a command addressed to Krishna (as Mādhava/Hṛṣīkeśa), urging him to drive the horses and take the chariot toward the area where many enemy chariots are moving, with the tactical aim of preventing those formidable warriors from devastating ‘our’ army.