Shloka 5
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
एकादश समाख्याता अक्षौहिण्यश्न या मम । निदेशे तव तिष्ठन्ति मया सार्थ परंतप,कथयामास दुर्धर्षो विनि:श्वस्य पुनः पुनः । संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला राजा दुर्योधन उस महान् युद्धमें एक राक्षसके द्वारा प्राप्त हुई अपनी पराजयको नहीं सह सका। उसने गंगानन्दन भीष्मजीके पास जाकर उन्हें विनीतभावसे प्रणाम करनेके पश्चात् सारा वृत्तान्त यथावत् रूपसे कह सुनाया। उस दुर्धर्ष वीरने बारंबार लम्बी साँस खींचकर घटोत्कचकी विजय और अपनी पराजयकी कथा कही 'परंतप! मेरे साथ ही मेरी ये प्रसिद्ध ग्यारह अक्षौहिणी सेनाएँ आपकी आज्ञाके अधीन हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
ekādaśa samākhyātā akṣauhiṇyaś ca yā mama |
nideśe tava tiṣṭhanti mayā sārdhaṃ parantapa |
kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya said: “O scorcher of foes, the eleven famed akṣauhiṇīs that are mine stand together with me under your command.” Having said this, the hard-to-subdue (Duryodhana) repeatedly heaved deep sighs as he related the matter—his humiliation and the enemy’s success—seeking to place the burden of leadership and the moral responsibility of the coming slaughter upon Bhīṣma’s authority.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how power and military strength are ethically weighty: Duryodhana, shaken by setback, seeks legitimacy and direction from Bhīṣma. It suggests that in war, authority is not merely strategic but also moral—leaders try to transfer or share responsibility for consequences through appeals to senior guardians of dharma.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, distressed and repeatedly sighing, approaches Bhīṣma and declares that his eleven renowned akṣauhiṇī armies stand ready under Bhīṣma’s command, while he recounts the troubling events that have undermined his confidence.