Shloka 18
Yudhiṣṭhira–Droṇa Saṃgrāma
Engagement and Countermeasures
इदं वाक््यं महातेजा बभाषे पुष्करेक्षण: । हितार्थ पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैन्धवस्य वधे कृती,अर्जुके शोकका आधार क्या है, यह सुनकर महातेजस्वी विद्वान् गरुड़ध्वज कमलनयन भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण आचमन करके पूर्वाभिमुख होकर बैठे और पाण्बुपुत्र अर्जुनके हित तथा सिंधुराज जयद्रथके वधके लिये इस प्रकार बोले--
idaṃ vākyaṃ mahātejā babhāṣe puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ | hitārthaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya saindhavasya vadhe kṛtī ||
Sañjaya said: The mighty, lotus-eyed one spoke these words—acting with deliberate purpose for the welfare of Pāṇḍu’s son (Arjuna) and with the resolve to bring about the slaying of the Sindhu king (Jayadratha).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa’s speech as purposeful and welfare-oriented: counsel in war is ethically justified when it aims at protecting the righteous ally (Arjuna) and removing a key wrongdoer (Jayadratha) whose actions have intensified adharma on the battlefield.
Sañjaya introduces that Kṛṣṇa, described as lotus-eyed and mighty, is about to speak with a clear objective: to secure Arjuna’s success and to enable the slaying of Jayadratha (the Sindhu king), a pivotal target in the day’s battle.