Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
एते हि बहव: शूरा: कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदा: । यथा हन्युर्न नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय
ete hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddha-durmadāḥ | yathā hanyur na naḥ senāṃ tathā mādhava codayā || hṛṣīkeśa! yatraite bahavo rathā yānti, tatrāśvān codayā | mādhava! ete astravidyā-vidaḥ raṇa-durmadā bahusaṅkhyakāḥ śūrāḥ yathā asmākaṃ senāyā vināśaṃ na kuryuḥ, tathā imaṃ rathaṃ tatra naya ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Sesungguhnya di sana ada ramai pahlawan—terlatih dalam senjata dan mabuk oleh kegilaan perang. Wahai Madhava, pandulah kereta perang ini sedemikian rupa agar mereka tidak mampu menumpaskan bala tentera kita. Wahai Hrishikesha, ke arah tempat banyak kereta bergerak itu, desakkan kuda-kuda dan bawalah kereta ini ke sana—supaya para wira yang mahir senjata dan mabuk oleh keangkuhan pertempuran tidak mendatangkan kebinasaan kepada pasukan kita.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights battlefield prudence and responsible leadership: recognizing the opponent’s capability (weapon-mastery and battle-pride) and positioning one’s forces so as to prevent needless destruction. It reflects the kṣatriya ethic of strategic action to protect one’s army while engaging in war.
Sanjaya narrates a command addressed to Krishna (as Mādhava/Hṛṣīkeśa), urging him to drive the horses and take the chariot toward the area where many enemy chariots are moving, with the tactical aim of preventing those formidable warriors from devastating ‘our’ army.