Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
त॑ ते ददृशुरीशानं तेजोराशिमुमापतिम् | अनन्यसदृशं लोके भगवन्तमकल्मषम्
taṁ te dadṛśur īśānaṁ tejorāśim umāpatim | ananyasadṛśaṁ loke bhagavantam akalmaṣam | tapa ugraṁ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ |
彼らはイーシャーナ——マハーデーヴァ、ウマーの主——を拝した。計り知れぬ光輝の塊、福徳具足の尊、汚れなく、世に比肩するものなき御方である。激しい苦行を引き受け、最高の制戒の規律に堅く立って、彼らは厳格な自己統御の心でその御方を求めた。
दुर्योधन उवाच
The verse elevates tapas (austere discipline) and niyama (restraint/observance) as means to approach the divine: true strength is linked to inner mastery and purity, and the incomparable Lord is portrayed as the ultimate refuge beyond worldly rivalry.
Duryodhana cites an older mythic episode: after the Daityas were defeated by the Devas, Tārakāsura’s three sons undertook intense austerities and strict observances, leading to a vision of Śiva (Īśāna, Umāpati), described as radiant, stainless, and unequaled.