Shloka 40
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
यदा शिखण्डी रथिन: प्रचिन्वन् भीष्म रथेनाभियाता वरूथी । दिव्यैहयैरवमृद्नन् रथौघां- स्तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्,जब शिखण्डी अपने रथकी रक्षाके साधनोंसे सम्पन्न हो रथियोंको चुन-चुनकर मारता तथा दिव्य अश्वोंद्वारा रथसमूहोंको रौंदता हुआ रथारूढ़ हो भीष्मपर आक्रमण करेगा, उस समय दुर्योधनको युद्ध छिड़ जानेके कारण बड़ा पश्चात्ताप होगा
sañjaya uvāca | yadā śikhaṇḍī rathinaḥ pracinvan bhīṣma-rathenābhiyātā varūthī | divyair hayair avamṛdnan rathaughāṃs tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro ’nvatapsyat ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Kapag si Śikhaṇḍī—na matibay ang pananggalang ng kanyang karwahe—ay sumugod laban kay Bhīṣma, pumipili at tumitibag sa mga pangunahing mandirigmang nakakarwahe, at sa pamamagitan ng mga kabayong maka-diyos ay dinudurog ang nagkakumpol na mga karwahe, kung magkagayon ang anak ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana) ay sasakmalin ng mapait na pagsisisi, sa sandaling ang digmaan ay tunay nang nagsimula.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Once a war is unleashed, its momentum and moral cost often exceed the instigator’s control; the verse foreshadows remorse arising from seeing revered elders and vast forces crushed by the very conflict one chose to begin.
Sañjaya predicts a battlefield moment: Śikhaṇḍī, strongly protected and mounted on a chariot, advances against Bhīṣma, cutting down chosen chariot-warriors and trampling chariot formations with divine horses; this spectacle will later cause Duryodhana deep regret as the war’s reality unfolds.