Shloka 12
धर्मराजस्य चिन्ता, भीमसेनप्रेषणम्, द्रोणानीकप्रवेशप्रयत्नः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Anxiety and the Dispatch of Bhīma; Attempted Breakthrough into Droṇa’s Formation
उन दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ वीरोंने हमलोगोंमें महान् भय उत्पन्न कर दिया और युद्धके मुहानेपर निर्भय और निश्चिन्त होकर अपने भयानक तेजका प्रदर्शन किया ।। अथ स्मयन् हृषीकेश: स्त्रीमध्य इव भारत । अर्जुनेन कृते संख्ये शरगर्भगृहे तथा,भरतनन्दन! युद्धस्थलमें अर्जुनके बनाये हुए उस बाणनिर्मित गृहमें भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण उसी प्रकार मुसकराते हुए निर्भय खड़े थे, मानो वे स्त्रियोंके बीचमें हों
sañjaya uvāca |
unaubhau narśreṣṭhau vīrau asmāsu mahad bhayam utpāditavantau yuddhasya mukhe nirbhayau niścitau ca svaṃ bhayānakaṃ tejaḥ pradarśitavantau ||
atha smayan hṛṣīkeśaḥ strī-madhya iva bhārata |
arjunena kṛte saṅkhye śara-garbha-gṛhe tathā ||
bharata-nandana! yuddha-sthale arjunena kṛte tasmin bāṇa-nirmite gṛhe bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ tathā smayamānaḥ nirbhayaḥ tiṣṭhati sma, yathā strīṇāṃ madhye syāt ||
तौ वीरौ नरशार्दूलौ भयं नः समपादयताम् । रणमूर्धनि विस्रब्धौ घोरं तेजो व्यदर्शयताम् ॥ अथ स्मयन् हृषीकेशः स्त्रीमध्य इव भारत । अर्जुनेन कृते संख्ये शरगर्भगृहे स्थितः ॥ भरतनन्दन युद्धस्थले शरनिर्मिते गृहे । निर्भयः स स्मयन् कृष्णो यथा स्त्रीणां मध्ये तथा ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid extreme violence and fear, true steadiness (niścintatā) and fearless clarity can be maintained. Krishna’s smiling composure symbolizes inner sovereignty and dharmic confidence, while the heroes’ ‘terrible splendor’ shows how moral and psychological force can shape a battle beyond mere weapons.
Sanjaya reports that two leading warriors have terrified the opposing ranks by boldly displaying their power at the front of battle. He then describes Krishna standing on the battlefield inside a protective shelter made from Arjuna’s arrows, smiling and unafraid—so relaxed that it is likened to being safely among women rather than in the midst of war.