Shloka 49
Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ
Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors
पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तश्निकीर्षन् कर्म दुष्करम् | जयद्रथवधान्वेषी प्रतिज्ञां कृतवान् हि यः
putraśokābhisaṁtaptaḥ śikīrṣan karma duṣkaram | jayadrathavadhānveṣī pratijñāṁ kṛtavān hi yaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Terbakar oleh dukacita atas puteranya, dan bertekad melaksanakan suatu perbuatan yang amat sukar—dia, yang memburu pembunuhan Jayadratha, benar-benar telah mengikrarkan sumpah yang suci.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense personal grief can harden into a binding vow, raising an ethical tension in dharma: a warrior’s duty and resolve may demand difficult action, yet vows born from sorrow can narrow judgment and intensify violence.
After the death of his son (Abhimanyu), Arjuna is overwhelmed with grief and makes a formidable pledge centered on killing Jayadratha, whom he holds responsible; Sañjaya reports this resolve as the war’s stakes escalate.