Shloka 13
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
एवं दुर्मर्षितो राजा स मात्रा बश्रुवाहन: । मनश्षक्रे महातेजा युद्धाय भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! माताके द्वारा इस प्रकार अमर्ष दिलाये जानेपर महातेजस्वी राजा बभ्रुवाहनने मन-ही-मन युद्ध करनेका निश्चय किया
evaṁ durmarṣito rājā sa mātrā babhruvāhanaḥ | manaś cakre mahātejā yuddhāya bharatarṣabha ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Demikianlah, setelah tersengat hingga tidak tertahan oleh hasutan ibunya, raja Babhruvāhana yang perkasa menetapkan dalam hatinya untuk turun berperang, wahai banteng di antara kaum Bharata.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how powerful emotions—especially anger stirred by close relations—can drive a ruler toward conflict; it implicitly invites reflection on whether a kṣatriya’s resolve should arise from dharma and discernment rather than provoked pride.
After being incited by his mother, King Babhruvāhana becomes intensely provoked and internally resolves to fight; the narrator Vaiśampāyana reports this turning point as the decision for battle is formed.