Shloka 17
व्यूढानीकान् महाराज जवेनैव महामते । धार्तराष्ट्राममुं लोकं गमयामि विशाम्पते,“महाराज! महामते! धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्र कितनी ही सेनाओंकी मोर्चाबन्दी क्यों न कर लें, हम उन्हें शीघ्र यमलोकका पथिक बनाकर ही छोड़ेंगे। मैं स्वयं ही शकुनिसहित समस्त धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंको मार डालूँगा। दुर्योधन, कर्ण अथवा दूसरा जो कोई योद्धा मेरा सामना करेगा, उसे भी अवश्य मारूँगा
vyūḍhānīkān mahārāja javenaiva mahāmate | dhārtarāṣṭrām amuṃ lokaṃ gamayāmi viśāmpate ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O king, O wise one—though the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra may marshal their forces in tight battle-array, I shall swiftly send them to that other world (the realm of death), O lord of the people.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethos of decisive action and the moral weight of violent resolve: even strong military organization is portrayed as powerless before a determined champion, while the phrase “sending to the other world” underscores that war entails irreversible ethical consequences—death and accountability.
The speaker (reported by Vaiśaṃpāyana) conveys a forceful vow: regardless of how the Dhārtarāṣṭras arrange their troops, they will be swiftly defeated and sent to the realm beyond life—an emphatic declaration of impending slaughter in a martial context.