Shloka 15

Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation

Devanagari script

आदित्यकेतुर्बह्नाशी कुण्डधारो महोदर: । अपराजित: पण्डितको विशालाक्ष: सुदुर्जय:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

ādityaketurbahnāśī kuṇḍadhāro mahodaraḥ |

aparājitaḥ paṇḍitakaḥ viśālākṣaḥ sudurjayaḥ ||

Translation

ਆਦਿਤ੍ਯਕੇਤੁ, ਬਹਨਾਸ਼ੀ, ਕੁੰਡਧਾਰ, ਮਹੋਦਰ, ਅਪਰਾਜਿਤ, ਪੰਡਿਤਕ ਅਤੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਦੁਰਜੈ ਵੀਰ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲਾਕ੍ਸ਼—ਇਹ ਸੱਤੋਂ ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰੁ-ਮਰਦਨ ਭਰਾ ਅਜੀਬੋ-ਗਰੀਬ ਵੇਸ਼-ਭੂਸ਼ਾ ਨਾਲ ਸਜੇ, ਵਿਲੱਖਣ ਕਵਚ ਤੇ ਧਵਜ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ, ਯੁੱਧ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਰ-ਭੂਮੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਂਡੁਪੁੱਤਰ ਭੀਮਸੇਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਟੁੱਟ ਪਏ।

Word by Word

• आदित्यकेतुः: Adityaketu (name)
• आदित्यकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्यकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बह्नाशी: Bahnashi (name)
• बह्नाशी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बह्नाशी
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुण्डधारः: Kundadhara (name)
• कुण्डधारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डधार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महोदरः: Mahodara (name; 'big-bellied')
• महोदरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपराजितः: Aparajita (name; 'unconquered')
• अपराजितः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराजित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पण्डितकः: Panditaka (name)
• पण्डितकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डितक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विशालाक्षः: Vishalaksha (name; 'one with large eyes')
• विशालाक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशालाक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुदुर्जयः: Sudurjaya (name; 'very hard to conquer')
• सुदुर्जयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदुर्जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Adityaketu
• Bahnāśī
• Kuṇḍadhāra
• Mahodara
• Aparājita
• Paṇḍitaka
• Viśālākṣa
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Pāṇḍu
• battlefield (saṅgrāma-bhūmi)
• armor (kavaca)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, outward splendor (armor, banners, display) and proclaimed invincibility do not guarantee safety; many warriors are driven by loyalty, pride, and the kṣatriya impulse toward combat. Ethically, it points to the tragic momentum of conflict—courage is praised, yet it also becomes a vehicle for destruction when harnessed to enmity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya lists seven warrior-brothers—Adityaketu, Bahnāśī, Kuṇḍadhāra, Mahodara, Aparājita, Paṇḍitaka, and Viśālākṣa—who, dressed in striking attire and carrying distinctive armor and standards, charge onto the battlefield and attack Bhīma, the son of Pāṇḍu.