Shloka 17
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa
Udyoga Parva 192
स्थविरो5स्मि महाबाहो मन्दप्राणविचेष्टित: । शस्त्राग्निना निर्दहेयं पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्
sthaviro 'smi mahābāho mandaprāṇaviceṣṭitaḥ | śastrāgninā nirdahēyaṁ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm ||
“ஓ மகாபாஹோ! நான் முதுமையடைந்தேன்; என் உயிர்வலிமையும் முயற்சியும் மந்தமாயின. ஆயினும் ஆயுதங்களின் அக்கினியால் பாண்டவர்களின் சேனையைச் சுட்டெரித்துவிடுவேன்.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological momentum toward war: even when physical capacity declines, anger, pride, and the warrior’s self-image can fuel destructive intent. It implicitly warns that ethical judgment (dharma) can be eclipsed by the intoxicating resolve to annihilate an enemy.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparations context, a speaker (introduced as “Sañjaya said”) voices a fierce intention to destroy the Pāṇḍavas’ forces, using the metaphor of ‘weapon-fire’ to describe total devastation, despite admitting old age and weakened vitality.