Shloka 18
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa
Udyoga Parva 192
“महाबाहो! अब तो मैं बूढ़ा हो गया, मेरी प्राणशक्ति और चेष्टा कम हो गयी, तो भी अपने अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंकी अग्निसे पाण्डवोंकी विशाल वाहिनीको भस्म कर दूँगा ।।
sañjaya uvāca | mahābāho! adhunāhaṁ vṛddho 'smi, mama prāṇaśaktiś ca ceṣṭā ca hīnā bhūtā; tathāpi svāstrāgninā pāṇḍavānāṁ viśālāṁ vāhinīṁ bhasmīkariṣyāmi || yathā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo māseneti matir mama | eṣā me paramā śaktir etan me paramaṁ balam ||
«ໂອ ຜູ້ມີແຂນອັນແຂງແກ່ງ! ບັດນີ້ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າແກ່ເຖົ້າແລ້ວ; ກຳລັງຊີວິດແລະຄວາມສາມາດໃນການອອກແຮງຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຫຼຸດລົງ. ແຕ່ກໍຍັງດ້ວຍໄຟແຫ່ງອາວຸດຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ກອງທັບອັນມະຫາສານຂອງປານດະວະກາຍເປັນຂີ້ເຖົ່າ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຊື່ອມັ່ນວ່າ ເຊັ່ນທີ່ພີສະມະ ບຸດແຫ່ງຊັນຕະນຸ ສາມາດທຳລາຍກອງທັບປານດະວະໃນໜຶ່ງເດືອນໄດ້, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍຈະທຳໄດ້ເຊັ່ນກັນ ໃນເວລາເທົ່າກັນ. ນີ້ແມ່ນອຳນາດສູງສຸດຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ; ນີ້ແມ່ນກຳລັງສຸດທ້າຍຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ»។
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the tension between physical decline and unwavering martial resolve: even as age reduces stamina, pride in skill and confidence in one’s role as a warrior can drive extreme vows. Ethically, it foregrounds how self-assurance and comparison with revered figures (like Bhishma) can intensify commitment to violence, inviting reflection on responsibility and the costs of war.
Sanjaya reports a warrior’s declaration of intent: despite being old and weakened, he claims he will burn the Pandavas’ vast army with his weapons, asserting he can accomplish in a month what Bhishma is believed capable of doing. The statement functions as a morale-boosting boast and a strategic claim about the coming conflict.