Shloka 2
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
वणिजो नावि भिन्नायां यथागाधेडप्लवे<र्णवे । अपारे पतिमच्छन्तो हते शूरे महात्मना
vaṇijo nāvi bhinnāyāṃ yathāgādhe ’ḍaplave ’rṇave | apāre patim acchanto hate śūre mahātmanā ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—যেনেকৈ গভীৰ, তীৰহীন সাগৰত জাহাজ ভাঙি পৰিলে বণিকসকল অসহায় হৈ ৰক্ষক-স্বামী বিচাৰে, তেনেকৈ সেই শূৰ মহাত্মা নিহত হোৱাৰ পাছত আশ্ৰয়হীন যোদ্ধাসকলে তেওঁলোকক ৰক্ষা কৰি স্থিৰ ৰাখিব পৰা নেতাক সন্ধান কৰিবলৈ ধৰিলে।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to show how an army’s morale and coherence depend on a capable protector-leader: when the heroic support is removed, people feel like shipwrecked merchants in a shoreless sea—exposed, fearful, and urgently seeking guidance.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield reaction after a great hero has been slain: the fighters, suddenly deprived of their main support, become disoriented and look for someone to lead and protect them, like shipwrecked traders searching for rescue in the open ocean.