Shloka 596
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
सगजं भगदत्तं तु हन्तुकाम: परंतप: । शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले घटोत्कचने अपने हाथीको गजारूढ़ राजा भगदत्तकी ओर बढ़ाया। वह उन्हें हाथीसहित मार डालना चाहता था
sagajaṃ bhagadattaṃ tu hantukāmaḥ paraṃtapaḥ | śatrūṇāṃ santāpa-dātā ghaṭotkacaḥ svahastinaṃ gajāruḍhaṃ rājānaṃ bhagadattaṃ prati prāpayām āsa; sa taṃ hastinā saha nihantuṃ cikīrṣuḥ ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ശത്രുക്കൾക്ക് താപം വരുത്തുന്ന പരന്തപനായ ഘടോത്കചൻ, ഗജാരൂഢനായ രാജാവ് ഭഗദത്തനെ ഗജസഹിതം വധിക്കണമെന്നാഗ്രഹിച്ച് തന്റെ ആനയെ അവന്റെ നേരെ ഓടിച്ചു.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical terrain of war (kṣatriya-dharma): a warrior may focus on neutralizing the most dangerous opponent, even if it entails extreme violence. It underscores strategic necessity and the grim responsibility borne in battle, rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca advances on his elephant toward Bhagadatta, who is also on an elephant, with the clear intention of killing Bhagadatta along with his mount—setting up a direct, high-stakes confrontation between two formidable fighters.