Shloka 19
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
तव दिव्यानि चास्त्राणि विक्रमश्न॒ परंतप । समागमश्च बहुभि: पुराभूदमरै: सह
sañjaya uvāca | tava divyāni cāstrāṇi vikramaś ca parantapa | samāgamaś ca bahubhiḥ purābhūd amaraiḥ saha | kathayāmāsa durdharṣo viniḥśvasya punaḥ punaḥ |
三阇耶说道：“噬敌如火者啊，你具足天授神兵与雄伟武力；往昔你甚至曾与众多不死天众交战。于是那难以攻破的杜罗约陀那，一再长叹，反复诉说自己受辱的败北与迦托迦遮的得胜，并催请毗湿摩遏止那残酷毁灭的罗刹——正如因陀罗昔日阻遏塔罗迦阿修罗的进逼一般。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how pride wounded by defeat seeks refuge in established authority and past glory. It also shows a common epic ethic: invoking precedent (Indra stopping Tārakāsura) to justify urgent action in war, emphasizing responsibility of senior warriors to protect the army using their sanctioned power (divine astras) rather than mere anger or vanity.
After being unable to bear his setback against the rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca, Duryodhana approaches Bhīṣma, repeatedly sighing, and reports the events. He urges Bhīṣma to restrain/defeat Ghaṭotkaca, praising Bhīṣma’s divine weapons, valor, and legendary past encounters with the gods, using Indra’s defeat of Tārakāsura as an illustrative comparison.