Shloka 61
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
अष्टचक्रसमायुक्तमास्थाय विपुलं रथम् | शूलमुद्गरधारिण्या शैलपादपहस्तया
aṣṭacakrasamāyuktam āsthāya vipulaṁ ratham | śūlamudgaradhāriṇyā śailapādapahastayā
सञ्जय उवाच—अष्टचक्रसमायुक्तं विपुलं रथम् आस्थाय सा प्रावर्तत। शूलमुद्गरधारिणी शैलपादपहारिणी च, शिलावत् प्रहर्तृभिः करैः समन्विता।
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war magnifies encounters with overwhelming force; the ethical challenge is to maintain courage and discernment without losing one’s grounding in dharma, even when faced with terrifying, dehumanizing violence.
Sañjaya describes a formidable female figure (unnamed in this half-verse) mounting a huge eight-wheeled chariot, armed with spear and mace, portrayed with rock-like feet and crushing hands—an intensification of the battle’s dread and grandeur.