Shloka 22
Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure
Ulūka–Yuyutsu; Śakuni–Sutasoma; Kṛpa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Kṛtavarmā–Śikhaṇḍin
साश्चपत्तिद्विपरथं महाशस्त्रौ्सम्प्लवम् | सहसा संतितीर्षन्तं पार्थ शस्त्रास्त्रसेतुना
sāśvapattidviparathaṁ mahāśastraughasamplavam | sahasā santitīrṣantaṁ pārtha śastrāstrasētunā ||
Disse Sañjaya: Arjuna (Pārtha), ao ver aquele vasto exército—repleto de cavalos, infantes, elefantes e carros, e inchado como uma cheia pelo caudal de grandes armas—quis atravessar de pronto esse “oceano de tropas” por meio de uma ponte feita de seus próprios projéteis e armas. Nesse momento Śrī Kṛṣṇa lhe disse: “Ó Pārtha sem mácula, por que brincas como se fosse jogo? Esmaga primeiro estes Saṁśaptakas e, depois, apressa-te com firme resolução no esforço pela queda de Karṇa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in heroic action, one should not be driven by showmanship or impulsive ‘play’; Kṛṣṇa’s counsel redirects Arjuna toward disciplined duty—remove immediate obstacles (the Saṁśaptakas) and pursue the decisive objective (Karṇa’s defeat) with urgency and moral seriousness.
Arjuna intends to break through a dense, weapon-filled enemy formation—likened to an ocean—by forging a path with his own weapons, as if building a bridge. Kṛṣṇa intervenes verbally, pressing him to stop treating the engagement lightly, first destroy the Saṁśaptakas who block him, and then move swiftly toward confronting and killing Karṇa.