Shloka 62
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
रक्षसां घोररूपाणामक्षौहिण्या समावृत: । ऐसे आठ पहियोंवाले विशाल रथपर बैठा हुआ घटोत्कच भयंकर रूपवाले राक्षसोंकी एक अक्षौहिणी सेनासे घिरा हुआ था। उस समस्त सेनाने अपने हाथोंमें शूल, मुद्गर, पर्वत- शिखर और वृक्ष ले रखे थे ।। ६१ है ।। तमुद्यतमहाचापं निशम्य व्यथिता नृपा:
sañjaya uvāca |
rakṣasāṃ ghorarūpāṇām akṣauhiṇyā samāvṛtaḥ |
aṣṭacakre mahārathye viśāle rathavare sthitaḥ |
ghaṭotkacaḥ bhayaṅkararūpo rakṣogaṇaiḥ parivṛtaḥ |
te sarve śūla-mudgara-parvataśikhara-vṛkṣān karaiḥ gṛhītvā yuddhāya samudyatāḥ |
tam udyata-mahācāpaṃ niśamya vyathitā nṛpāḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—घोररूपो घटोत्कचोऽष्टचक्रसमायुक्ते विपुले रथे समासीनः। घोररूपाणां रक्षसामक्षौहिण्या समावृतः स शूलमुद्गरैः शैलशिखरैश्चोद्धृतैर्द्रुमैश्च समन्तात् समायुक्तैः सह युद्धायाभ्यपतत्। तमुद्यतमहाचापं निशम्य नृपाः सर्वे व्यथिताः।
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how fear can spread through armies and rulers when confronted by overwhelming force and the uncanny. Ethically, it underscores that in war, psychological strength and steadiness are as decisive as weapons—panic weakens judgment, while composure sustains dharma-oriented action even amid terror.
Sañjaya describes Ghaṭotkaca entering the battlefield in a formidable display: seated on a huge eight-wheeled chariot, encircled by a full akṣauhiṇī of rākṣasas carrying brutal weapons (spears, maces) and even natural objects (trees, mountain-peaks). The mere report of his raised great bow causes the kings to tremble.