Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
एतस्याभिमुखं वीर रथं पररथारुजम् | प्रापयस्वैष राजा हि प्रमाथी युद्धदुर्मद:
etasyābhimukhaṁ vīra rathaṁ pararathārujam | prāpayasvaiṣa rājā hi pramāthī yuddha-durmadaḥ ||
Arjuna berkata: “Wahai pahlawan, halakanlah kereta ini—yang memecahkan kereta musuh—terus menghadapnya. Kerana raja itu benar-benar penghancur musuh yang garang, mabuk oleh bara semangat peperangan.”
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of meeting a formidable opponent directly, combining courage with tactical positioning—advancing the chariot to confront the battle-maddened king rather than avoiding engagement.
Arjuna issues a battlefield command to his charioteer/companion, instructing him to drive their powerful chariot straight toward a fierce king described as a destroyer of enemies and intoxicated with war.