Shloka 2
अध्याय ९१ — शैनेयस्य गजानीकभेदनं जलसंधवधश्च
Chapter 91: Sātyaki breaks the elephant array and slays Jalasaṃdha
अर्जुन बोले--हृषीकेश! जहाँ दुर्मर्षण खड़ा है, उसी ओर घोड़ोंको बढ़ाइये। मैं उसकी इस गजसेनाका भेदन करके शत्रुओंकी विशाल वाहिनीमें प्रवेश करूँगा ।। संजय उवाच एवमुक्तो महाबाहु: केशव: सव्यसाचिना । अचोदयद्धयांस्तत्र यत्र दुर्मर्षण: स्थित:,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! सव्यसाची अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर महाबाह श्रीकृष्णने, जहाँ दुर्मषण खड़ा था, उसी ओर घोड़ोंको हाँका
arjuna uvāca—hṛṣīkeśa! yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ, tatrāśvān pravartaya. asyā gajasenāyā bhittvā śatrūṇāṃ vipulāṃ vāhinīm praviśāmi. sañjaya uvāca—evam ukto mahābāhuḥ keśavaḥ savyasācinā, acodayad hayāṃs tatra yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ.
Arjuna said: “Hṛṣīkeśa, drive the horses toward the place where Durmarṣaṇa stands. I will break through his elephant-corps and enter the enemy’s vast host.” Sañjaya said: Thus addressed by the ambidextrous Arjuna, mighty-armed Keśava urged the horses forward to where Durmarṣaṇa was stationed. The passage frames Arjuna’s resolve as a deliberate tactical penetration of the opposing formation, executed through coordinated trust between warrior and charioteer—an ethical image of disciplined agency guided by a steadier intelligence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the violence of war, action is shown as disciplined and purposeful: Arjuna’s resolve is paired with reliance on Kṛṣṇa’s guidance. The ethical subtext is coordinated duty—courage directed by steadiness, not impulsive rage.
Arjuna identifies Durmarṣaṇa’s position and commands Kṛṣṇa to steer the chariot toward him. Arjuna intends to smash through the elephant division guarding that sector and penetrate deeper into the Kaurava formation; Kṛṣṇa immediately drives the horses accordingly.