Shloka 55
तामुत्तमां परकायावहन्त्रीं दृष्टवा शक्ति बाहुसंस्थां ज्वलन्तीम् । भीतं रक्षो विप्रदुद्राव राजन् कृत्वा55त्मानं विन्ध्यतुल्यप्रमाणम्,राजन! दूसरेके शरीरको विदीर्ण कर डालनेवाली उस उत्तम एवं प्रज्वलित शक्तिको कर्णके हाथमें देखकर भयभीत हुआ राक्षस घटोत्कच अपने शरीरको विन्ध्यपर्वतके समान विशाल बनाकर भागा
tām uttamāṁ parakāyāvahantrīṁ dṛṣṭvā śaktiṁ bāhusaṁsthāṁ jvalantīm | bhītaṁ rakṣo vipradudrāva rājan kṛtvātmānaṁ vindhyatulyapramāṇam ||55||
Sañjaya said: O King, seeing that supreme, blazing spear—set in Karṇa’s arm and capable of rending another’s body—the rākṣasa (Ghaṭotkaca), struck with fear, fled in haste, enlarging his own form to the vast measure of the Vindhya mountains. The moment underscores how even formidable might yields before a weapon charged with decisive, body-destroying power, and how fear can overturn battlefield pride.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological truth that even the strongest warrior can be shaken when confronted with a decisive, body-destroying weapon; power on the battlefield is not only physical but also moral and mental, and fear can abruptly reverse one’s stance.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Ghaṭotkaca, seeing Karṇa holding a blazing śakti poised in his arm, becomes afraid and retreats rapidly, enlarging his form to a mountain-like size as he flees.