Shloka 14
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
तव च भ्रातर श्रेष्ठा दःशासनपुरोगमा: । त्वदर्थे प्रतियोत्स्यामो राक्षसं तं महाबलम्
tava ca bhrātaraḥ śreṣṭhā duḥśāsana-purogamāḥ | tvad-arthe pratiyotsyāmo rākṣasaṃ taṃ mahābalam, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Dan saudara-saudaramu yang terunggul, dipimpin oleh Duḥśāsana, akan berperang demi tuanku melawan Rākṣasa yang maha perkasa itu.” Setelah berkata demikian, sang pahlawan yang sukar ditandingi itu berulang kali menarik nafas panjang, lalu menceritakan kembali—bagaimana Ghaṭotkaca menang dan bagaimana dirinya dijatuhkan—seraya menasihati raja agar jangan bertempur secara langsung dengan makhluk garang itu, tetapi menyerahkan beban pertempuran kepada para juara agung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent kingship in war: when a threat is extraordinary, a ruler should restrain personal impulse and rely on capable protectors and collective effort. It also reflects the ethical tension between pride and responsibility—accepting counsel and acting for the larger objective rather than ego.
Sañjaya reports that the speaker (in context, a Kaurava leader) declares that the king’s brothers, led by Duḥśāsana, will fight the mighty Rākṣasa (Ghaṭotkaca) on the king’s behalf. The warrior, repeatedly sighing, recounts Ghaṭotkaca’s victory and his own defeat, advising the king not to fight Ghaṭotkaca directly.