Shloka 19
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
गुप्तं प्रवीरैलोकिश्व॒ सारवद्धिर्महात्मभि: । यदहन्यत संग्रामे देवमत्र पुरातनम्
sañjaya uvāca |
guptaṃ pravīrair lokīśvaraiḥ sāravaddhir mahātmabhiḥ |
yad ahanyata saṃgrāme daivam atra purātanam ||
三阇耶说道：“我的军队虽常由强大的英雄守护——他们是人中之主，深谙战阵精髓，心魂高远——却仍在战斗中被击溃。此中缘由，乃是我等久远的天命（daiva），早已注定。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when power, strategy, and renowned protectors are present, outcomes may still unfold according to long-accumulated destiny (daiva), highlighting the Mahābhārata’s tension between human effort and the moral-causal weight of past actions.
Sañjaya reflects on the Kaurava side: despite being guarded by celebrated warriors, the army suffers destruction in battle, and he attributes this reversal to an ancient, already-set destiny.