Shloka 5
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
गड़ाया: सुरनद्या वै स्वादु भूत्वा यथोदकम् | महोददथेर्गुणा भ्यासाललवण त्वं निगच्छति,परंतप! नरेश! जैसे देवनदी गंगाजीका जल स्वादिष्ट होकर भी महासागरके संयोगसे उसीके गुणका सम्मिश्रण हो जानेके कारण खारा हो जाता है, उसी प्रकार आपके पुत्रोंका पुरुषार्थ युद्धमें वीर पाण्डवोंतक पहुँचकर व्यर्थ हो जाता है
surānadī yathā gaṅgā svādu bhūtvā yathodakam | mahodadheḥ saṃyogena guṇasaṃmiśraṇād bhavet lavaṇā parantapa || tathā tava sutānāṃ yat pauruṣaṃ yuddham āśritam | vīraiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saṃprāpya niṣphalaṃ pratipadyate ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ପରନ୍ତପ ନରେଶ! ଯେପରି ଦେବନଦୀ ଗଙ୍ଗାର ଜଳ ସ୍ୱଭାବତଃ ମିଠା ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମହାସାଗରକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୋଇ ସାଗରଗୁଣ ସହ ସଂଯୋଗରୁ ଲୁଣିଆ ହୋଇଯାଏ, ସେପରି ତୁମ ପୁଅମାନଙ୍କର ପୌରୁଷ ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମିରେ ବୀର ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହେଲେ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ ହୋଇଯାଏ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that power and effort, when driven by an unrighteous cause or confronted by superior virtue and strength, can become ineffective—like sweet river-water turning salty upon merging with the ocean. It cautions a king that mere force cannot guarantee success when moral and strategic realities overwhelm it.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, using a vivid natural metaphor, that the Kauravas’ martial exertions are being neutralized upon meeting the Pāṇḍavas in battle. It is part of Sañjaya’s ongoing battlefield narration and assessment of the war’s momentum.