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Shloka 25

Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)

कुलालचक्रवन्नागस्तदा तूर्णमथा भ्रमत्‌ । नागायुतबल: श्रीमान्‌ कालयानो वृकोदरम्‌,उस समय वह हाथी तुरंत ही कुम्हारके चाकके समान सब ओर घूमने लगा। उसमें दस हजार हाथियोंका बल था। वह शोभायमान गजराज भीमसेनको मार डालनेका प्रयत्न कर रहा था

kulālacakravan nāgas tadā tūrṇam atha bhramat | nāgāyutabalaḥ śrīmān kālayāno vṛkodaram ||

قال سنجيا: ثم أخذ ذلك الفيل يدور مسرعًا كدولاب الخزّاف. وكان ذا قوة عشرة آلاف فيل، بهيَّ الطلعة، فاندفع الفيل الملك كالاياṇa يسعى لإسقاط فِرِكودَرا (بهيمَ). ويُظهر المشهد كيف تتحول القوة المحضة والزخم، في سعار الحرب، إلى أدوات لنية قاتلة حتى ضد أبرع الأبطال.

कुलालचक्रवत्like a potter's wheel
कुलालचक्रवत्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकुलालचक्रवत्
FormAvyaya (indeclinable), comparative particle -वत्
नागःthe elephant
नागः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
FormAvyaya
तूर्णम्swiftly
तूर्णम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतूर्ण
FormAvyaya (adverbial accusative)
अथthen/and now
अथ:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
FormAvyaya
भ्रमत्whirling/turning about
भ्रमत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootभ्रम्
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), masculine nominative singular (agreeing with नागः)
नागायुतबलःhaving the strength of ten thousand elephants
नागायुतबलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनागायुतबल
FormMasculine, nominative, singular (agreeing with कालयानः/नागः)
श्रीमान्splendid, illustrious
श्रीमान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रीमत्
FormMasculine, nominative, singular (agreeing with कालयानः/नागः)
कालयानःKālayāna (name of the elephant)
कालयानः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकालयान
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
वृकोदरम्Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
वृकोदरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवृकोदर
FormMasculine, accusative, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Kālayāna (elephant)
V
Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
K
kulāla-cakra (potter’s wheel)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the war-ethic reality that immense power, when driven by hostile intent, becomes a destructive force; it invites reflection on how martial prowess and momentum can eclipse restraint, even against renowned warriors.

Sañjaya describes the elephant Kālayāna spinning rapidly in all directions like a potter’s wheel, boasting the strength of ten thousand elephants, and attempting to kill Bhīma (Vṛkodara) amid the battle.