ततो दीप्ताग्निसंकाशां शतघण्टाम् अलंकृताम् ॥
चिक्षेप समरे तस्मै गदां काञ्चनभूषणाम् ॥
सा हयान् सारथिं चैव रथं चास्य महास्वना ॥
चूर्णयाम् आस वेगेन विसृष्टा भीमकर्मणा ॥
स भग्नहयचक्राक्षो विशीर्णध्वजकूबरः ॥
उत्पपात रथात् तूर्णं मायाम् आस्थाय राक्षसीम् ॥
स समास्थाय मायां तु ववर्ष रुधिरं बहु ॥
विद्युद्विभ्राजितं चासीत् तिमिराभ्राकुलं नभः ॥
tato dīptāgnisaṃkāśāṃ śataghaṇṭām alaṃkṛtām ||
cikṣepa samare tasmai gadāṃ kāñcanabhūṣaṇām ||
sā hayān sārathiṃ caiva rathaṃ cāsya mahāsvanā ||
cūrṇayām āsa vegena visṛṣṭā bhīmakarmaṇā ||
sa bhagnahayacakrākṣo viśīrṇadhvajakūbaraḥ ||
utpapāta rathāt tūrṇaṃ māyām āsthāya rākṣasīm ||
sa samāsthāya māyāṃ tu vavarṣa rudhiraṃ bahu ||
vidyudvibhrājitaṃ cāsīt timirābhrākulaṃ nabhaḥ ||
He, however, from that blow, the son of Bhimasena, mighty, having slightly lapsed into unconsciousness, mastered himself, the valiant one. Then he hurled at him in battle a mace resembling blazing fire, hundred-belled, adorned, adorned with gold. It, loud-roaring, crushed headlong his horses, charioteer, and chariot, hurled by him of fearsome deeds [Ghatotkacha]. He [Alayudha], with horses, wheels, and axle broken, with banner and pole broken, swiftly leapt up from the chariot, resorting to rakshasa sorcery.
6edc6949be71 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:58:10 PM UTC
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Stunned by the blow, Ghatotkacha "mastered himself" — gathered his will and answered with a mace that shattered the enemy's chariot. This self-command is telling: a moment of weakness overcome by an effort of spirit. The verse teaches that in battle mastery over oneself decides the outcome: one who is shaken yet regains command of himself strikes back; and victory often falls to whoever, after being stunned, is first to recover clarity and the will to act.