Shloka 10
इति प्राज्ञ: प्रज़्॒यैतद् विचिन्त्य घटोत्कचं सूतपुत्रेण युद्धे । अघातयद् वासुदेवो नृसिंह: प्रियं कुर्वन् पाण्डवानां हितं च,मनुष्योंमें सिंहके समान पराक्रमी बुद्धिमान् वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्णने अपनी बुद्धिसे यही सोचकर पाण्डवोंका प्रिय तथा हित करते हुए युद्धमें सूतपुत्र कर्णके द्वारा घटोत्कचको मरवा दिया
iti prājñaḥ prajñaitad vicintya ghaṭotkacaṃ sūtaputreṇa yuddhe | aghātayad vāsudevo nṛsiṃhaḥ priyaṃ kurvan pāṇḍavānāṃ hitaṃ ca ||
Thus, the wise Vāsudeva—lion-like among men—having reflected with clear discernment on this matter, arranged in the battle that Ghaṭotkaca be slain by the charioteer’s son (Karna), acting to secure what was dear to the Pāṇḍavas and what served their welfare. The verse frames Kṛṣṇa’s decision as a deliberate, ethically charged strategy: accepting a painful loss in order to protect the larger cause and the long-term safety of his allies.
श्रीवायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights strategic ethics in crisis: a leader may accept an immediate, painful loss to avert a greater catastrophe and protect the broader welfare of those under his care. Kṛṣṇa’s action is presented as deliberate, guided by discernment (prajñā) and oriented toward the Pāṇḍavas’ long-term good (hita).
Kṛṣṇa, after reflecting, ensures that Ghaṭotkaca is killed by Karṇa in battle. In the larger episode, this is tied to drawing out Karṇa’s decisive weapon against Ghaṭotkaca, thereby safeguarding the Pāṇḍavas from a potentially more dangerous use of that power later.