Shloka 36
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
विकर्णस्तु महाप्राज्ञो याज्ञसेनिं शिखण्डिनम् । पर्यवारयदायान्तं युवानं समरे युवा
vikarṇas tu mahāprājño yājñaseniṁ śikhaṇḍinam | paryavārayad āyāntaṁ yuvānaṁ samare yuvā ||
Sañjaya berkata: Vikarṇa yang amat bijaksana, juga seorang pahlawan muda, mara untuk menahan kemaraan Śikhaṇḍin—putera Yājñasena—yang sedang datang ke hadapan dalam pertempuran. Dalam himpitan perang, pemuda bertemu pemuda, masing-masing berusaha menegakkan dharma pihaknya melalui keberanian dan ketahanan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: to meet an advancing opponent with courage and restraint, protecting one’s formation and allies. It also suggests that true prowess is not mere aggression but disciplined resistance—checking harm and maintaining order amid chaos.
As the battle intensifies, Śikhaṇḍin (Drupada’s child, allied with the Pāṇḍavas) advances. Vikarṇa, a young Kaurava prince described as highly intelligent, steps forward to block or hold him back, setting up a direct youthful confrontation on the field.