Shloka 13
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
तस्य वेगमसहां त॑ कुन्तीपुत्रस्य धीमत: । नाशबवनुवंस्ते संसोढुं स्पर्शमग्नेरिव प्रजा:,परम बुद्धिमान् कुन्तीपुत्रके उस असहा वेगको कौरव-सैनिक उसी प्रकार नहीं सह सके, जैसे प्रजा अग्निका स्पर्श नहीं सहन कर पाती
tasya vegam asahās tu kuntīputrasya dhīmataḥ | nāśakuvan te saṁsoḍhuṁ sparśam agner iva prajāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The Kuntī-born hero, wise and formidable, surged forward with such irresistible force that the Kaurava soldiers could not endure it—just as ordinary people cannot bear the touch of fire. The verse underscores how unchecked martial energy, when joined to skill and resolve, becomes morally and physically overwhelming on the battlefield, reducing opponents to helplessness before a power they cannot withstand.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea that certain forces—like fire—are intrinsically unbearable; similarly, a warrior’s concentrated momentum and prowess can become overwhelming. Ethically, it points to the reality that in war, power without an equal counterforce compels retreat and breaks resistance, reminding readers of the grave consequences of unleashing such energy.
Sañjaya describes a Kuntī-born Pāṇḍava hero charging with tremendous speed and force. The Kaurava troops are unable to withstand his onrush, just as people cannot tolerate the touch of fire.