Shloka 21
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
एतच्छुत्वा तु वचन भीष्मस्य पृतनापते: । प्रययौँ सिंहनादेन परानभिमुखो द्रुतम्,कथयामास दुर्धर्षो विनि:श्वस्य पुनः पुनः । संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला राजा दुर्योधन उस महान् युद्धमें एक राक्षसके द्वारा प्राप्त हुई अपनी पराजयको नहीं सह सका। उसने गंगानन्दन भीष्मजीके पास जाकर उन्हें विनीतभावसे प्रणाम करनेके पश्चात् सारा वृत्तान्त यथावत् रूपसे कह सुनाया। उस दुर्धर्ष वीरने बारंबार लम्बी साँस खींचकर घटोत्कचकी विजय और अपनी पराजयकी कथा कही सेनापति भीष्मका यह वचन सुनकर राजा भगदत्त सिंहनाद करते हुए तुरंत ही शत्रुओंका सामना करनेके लिये चल दिये
etac chrutvā tu vacanaṃ bhīṣmasya pṛtanāpateḥ | prayayau siṃhanādena parān-abhimukho drutam, kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
సేనాపతి భీష్ముని ఈ మాటలు విని, ఆ రాజు సింహనాదం చేస్తూ శత్రువుల వైపు ముఖం తిప్పి వెంటనే దూసుకెళ్లాడు.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral-psychological theme: attachment to honor and the inability to tolerate defeat can overpower prudence, pushing a warrior back into violence despite counsel. It implicitly warns that pride (māna) and wounded ego distort judgment in dharmic crises.
After Bhīṣma’s words are heard, Bhagadatta (as the immediate subject of the marching action) advances swiftly toward the enemy with a lion-like roar. In the surrounding narrative context, Duryodhana—distressed by a setback involving Ghaṭotkaca—has reported events to Bhīṣma, repeatedly sighing as he recounts the reversal.