Shloka 49

अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः

Devanagari script

घटोत्कचं राक्षसेन्द्र शक्रशकत्या निजध्निवान्‌ | एतांश्व दिवसान्‌ यस्य युद्धे भीतो धनंजय:

Transliteration

ghaṭotkacaṃ rākṣasendra śakraśaktyā nijaghnivān | etāṃś ca divasān yasya yuddhe bhīto dhanaṃjayaḥ ||

Translation

وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—اِندر کی شکتی سے اُس نے راکشسوں کے سردار گھٹوتکچ کو گرا دیا۔ انہی دنوں کے لیے دھننجَے جنگ میں خوف زدہ تھا—کہ وہ دیوی ہتھیار ایک بار چل کر صرف ہو جائے گا۔

Word by Word

घटोत्कचम्Ghaṭotkaca (as object)

राक्षसेन्द्रO lord of the rākṣasas

शक्रशक्त्याwith Indra's spear (Śakti weapon)

निजघ्निवान्he struck down / killed

एतान्these

चand

दिवसान्days

यस्यof whom / whose

युद्धेin battle

भीतःafraid

धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Ghaṭotkaca

Rākṣasa (people/class)

Śakra (Indra)

Śakti (Indra’s spear/divine weapon)

Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: victory can hinge on singular, devastating means, and warriors may endure fear not only of death but of irreversible turning points—such as the deployment of a unique divine weapon. It invites reflection on how dharma in battle is entangled with necessity, consequence, and the cost of survival.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Ghaṭotkaca, the formidable Rākṣasa leader, is slain by Indra’s Śakti. The verse adds that Arjuna had been apprehensive during these days of fighting, anticipating the critical moment when that weapon would be used and thereby removed from the enemy’s arsenal.