Shloka 18
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — इरावान्-आवन्त्ययोः युद्धम्, घटोत्कच-भगदत्त-संघर्षः, मद्रेश्वर-विक्षेपः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Irāvān vs the Avanti princes; Ghaṭotkaca vs Bhagadatta; Śalya checked by the Mādrī twins
कृपदु:शासनाभ्यां च जयद्रथमुखैस्तथा । भगदत्तविकर्णाभ्यां द्रौणिसौबलबाह्विकैः
kṛpaduryodhanābhyāṃ ca jayadrathamukhais tathā | bhagadattavikarṇābhyāṃ drauṇisaubalabāhlikaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Tentera beta sentiasa dipelihara keselamatannya oleh para pendekar perkasa—oleh Kṛpa dan Duryodhana, juga oleh Jayadratha dan yang lain-lain; oleh Bhagadatta dan Vikarṇa; serta oleh Aśvatthāman, Śakuni, dan Bāhlika. Namun jika pasukan yang dikawal sebegitu pun sedang ditebas jatuh di medan perang, maka sebabnya tentulah takdir purba kita yang telah masak.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one has strong external supports—powerful allies, strategy, and protection—outcomes in the Mahābhārata are repeatedly framed as shaped by prior karma and ripened destiny; this reflection also hints at the moral weight of earlier choices that culminate in unavoidable consequences.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava host is guarded by renowned champions (Kṛpa, Duryodhana, Jayadratha, Bhagadatta, Vikarṇa, Aśvatthāmā, Śakuni, Bāhlika). Yet despite such protection, the army is being destroyed in battle, which he attributes to long-standing fate.