Shloka 38
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन् राक्षसेन्द्र: प्रतापवान् । शक्ति चिक्षेप वेगेन प्राग्ज्योतिषगजं प्रति,घोड़ोंके मारे जानेपर भी उसी रथपर खड़े हुए प्रतापी राक्षसराज घटोत्कचने भगदत्तके हाथीपर बड़े वेगसे शक्तिका प्रहार किया
sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān | śaktiṃ cikṣepa vegena prāgjyotiṣa-gajaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya berkata: Walaupun kudanya telah terbunuh, penguasa Rākṣasa yang gagah, Ghaṭotkaca, tetap teguh berdiri di atas kereta yang sama. Dengan kelajuan besar dia melontarkan senjata śakti ke arah gajah Bhagadatta dari Prāgjyotiṣa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under adversity: even after losing his horses, the warrior does not abandon his post. In the Mahābhārata’s war-ethos, such resolve is praised as part of kṣatriya-dharma, while also reminding the reader of the grim cost and escalating intensity of violence.
Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca, still standing on his chariot despite his horses being killed, hurls a śakti-weapon at Bhagadatta’s elephant associated with Prāgjyotiṣa, intensifying the clash between major combatants and their war-mounts.