Shloka 44
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
“अतः राजन! तुम स्थिर होकर युद्धके विषयमें अपना दृढ़ निश्चय बना लो और स्वर्गको ही अन्तिम आश्रय मानकर रणभूमिमें पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्ध करो ।। न शक्या: पाण्डवा जेतु सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरै: । तस्माद् युद्धे स्थिरां कृत्वा मतिं युद्धयस्व भारत,'भारत! इन्द्रसहित सम्पूर्ण देवता और असुर मिलकर भी पाण्डवोंको जीत नहीं सकते। अतः युद्धके लिये पहले अपनी बुद्धिको स्थिर कर लो। उसके बाद युद्ध करो”
ataḥ rājan! tvaṃ sthiraḥ kṛtvā yuddhe viṣaye svāṃ dṛḍhāṃ matiṃ vidhatsva, svargam eva cāntimāśrayaṃ manyamāno raṇabhūmau pāṇḍavaiḥ saha yudhyasva. na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ sendrair api surāsuraiḥ; tasmād yuddhe sthirāṃ kṛtvā matiṃ yuddhyasva bhārata.
Portanto, ó Rei, firma-te e forma uma determinação inabalável quanto à guerra. Tomando o céu como teu derradeiro refúgio, combate os Pāṇḍavas no campo de batalha. Os Pāṇḍavas não podem ser conquistados — ainda que deuses e asuras se unissem, com Indra à frente, não conseguiriam vencê-los. Assim, ó descendente de Bharata, primeiro torna tua mente firme para a luta e só então entra na guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses steadiness of mind and firm resolve in the face of inevitable outcomes. It also frames the warrior-ethic: if one chooses battle, one should do so with composure and with the traditional Kṣatriya horizon of honor and heaven—while acknowledging that the Pāṇḍavas’ victory is portrayed as divinely supported and thus practically unavoidable.
Sanjaya, reporting events and offering counsel to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, urges him to accept the reality of the coming conflict. He declares that the Pāṇḍavas are unconquerable even by a coalition of gods and asuras led by Indra, and therefore tells the king to steady his mind and commit to the course of war.