Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — इरावान्-आवन्त्ययोः युद्धम्, घटोत्कच-भगदत्त-संघर्षः, मद्रेश्वर-विक्षेपः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Irāvān vs the Avanti princes; Ghaṭotkaca vs Bhagadatta; Śalya checked by the Mādrī twins
ईदृशो5पि बलौघस्तु संयुक्त: शस्त्रसम्पदा । वध्यते यत्र संग्रामे किमन्यद् भागधेयत:
īdṛśo 'pi balaughas tu saṁyuktaḥ śastra-sampadā | vadhyate yatra saṅgrāme kim anyad bhāgadhayataḥ ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்— இத்தகைய பெரும் படைத்திரள் ஆயுதச் செல்வத்தால் நிறைந்திருந்தும் போரில் அழிந்து கொண்டிருக்கையில், விதி (பாகதேயம்) தவிர வேறு காரணம் என்ன இருக்க முடியும்?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Material strength—numbers, weapons, and resources—does not guarantee victory; the verse foregrounds bhāgadhaya (allotted fate) as a decisive factor, inviting reflection on the limits of human control amid dharmic and karmic forces.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that despite the Kaurava side possessing a huge, well-armed host, it is still being destroyed in the fighting; he interprets this reversal as evidence of destiny operating on the battlefield.