Shloka 38
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन् राक्षसेन्द्र: प्रतापवान् । शक्ति चिक्षेप वेगेन प्राग्ज्योतिषगजं प्रति
sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān | śaktiṃ cikṣepa vegena prāgjyotiṣa-gajaṃ prati ||
ಕುದುರೆಗಳು ಹತರಾದರೂ ಅದೇ ರಥದ ಮೇಲೆ ಸ್ಥಿರವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತ ಪ್ರತಾಪವಂತ ರಾಕ್ಷಸೇಂದ್ರ ಘಟೋತ್ಕಚನು, ಪ್ರಾಗ್ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷದ (ಭಗದತ್ತನ) ಗಜದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಮಹಾವೇಗದಿಂದ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಎಸೆದನು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under adversity: even after losing his horses, the warrior does not abandon his post. In the Mahābhārata’s war-ethos, such resolve is praised as part of kṣatriya-dharma, while also reminding the reader of the grim cost and escalating intensity of violence.
Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca, still standing on his chariot despite his horses being killed, hurls a śakti-weapon at Bhagadatta’s elephant associated with Prāgjyotiṣa, intensifying the clash between major combatants and their war-mounts.