Shloka 18
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
वारयस्व रणे यत्तो मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् | “महाराज! तुम रणदुर्मद घटोत्कचका सामना करनेके लिये शीघ्र जाओ और समस्त धनुर्धरोंके देखते-देखते प्रयत्नपूर्वक उसे रणक्षेत्रमें आगे बढ़नेसे रोको || १७ है ।।
vārayasva raṇe yatto miṣatāṁ sarva-dhanvinām | rākṣasaṁ krūra-karmāṇaṁ yathendraḥ tārakaṁ purā, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
Sañjaya disse: “Vai já ao combate e, diante dos olhos de todos os arqueiros, esforça-te por detê-lo. Refreia esse rākṣasa de atos cruéis, como Indra outrora deteve o avanço de Tāraka.” Tendo falado assim, o difícil de vencer suspirou profundamente repetidas vezes, narrando de novo e de novo a vitória do rākṣasa e a própria humilhação em meio à grande guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores kṣatriya-duty in crisis: a leader must act decisively to restrain a destructive threat, not merely for personal pride but to preserve order and protect the host. The Indra–Tāraka analogy frames rightful force as protective restraint rather than uncontrolled vengeance.
After suffering a setback at the hands of Ghaṭotkaca, Duryodhana—distressed and repeatedly sighing—approaches Bhīṣma and urges him to go quickly to the front and stop the rākṣasa’s advance in full view of the army, likening the needed intervention to Indra halting Tāraka in ancient times.