Shloka 13
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा स्त्रीणां च आर्तनादः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Collapse and the Lament of the Palace Women
येन दिव्यास्त्रविच्छूरो मायावी स घटोत्कच: । अमोघया रणे शक््त्या निहतो भैरवं नदन्,“जिसने रणभूमिमें भयंकर गर्जना करनेवाले दिव्यास्त्रवेत्ता, शूरवीर मायावी घटोत्कचको अपनी अमोघ शक्तिसे मार डाला था
yena divyāstravicchūro māyāvī sa ghaṭotkacaḥ | amoghayā raṇe śaktyā nihato bhairavaṁ nadan |
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—“ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਰਣਭੂਮੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਗੱਜਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ, ਦਿਵ੍ਯ ਅਸਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਗਿਆਤਾ, ਸ਼ੂਰ ਮਾਯਾਵੀ ਘਟੋਤਕਚ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਅਮੋਘ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਮਾਰ ਡਾਲਿਆ ਸੀ।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical tension of warfare: a warrior may be compelled to deploy an irrevocable, extraordinary weapon to neutralize a dangerous adversary. It points to the harsh reality that dharma in battle can involve grave, irreversible choices made for strategic necessity and protection of one’s side.
Sañjaya identifies a warrior by recalling a defining deed: the slaying of Ghaṭotkaca, the fearsome, illusion-wielding fighter skilled in celestial weapons, who was killed in combat by an unfailing spear (śakti) while roaring terribly.