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 ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ghaṭotkaca, penyiksa musuh yang garang, dengan hasrat membunuh Bhagadatta bersama gajahnya, menghalakan gajahnya sendiri terus ke arah Raja Bhagadatta yang sedang menunggang gajah. Dia berniat menewaskan baginda beserta gajah perang itu sekali gus.
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.