Shloka 12
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य क्रुद्धो राजन् धनंजय: । भूमिष्ठो वारणगतं योधयामास भारत
tam āpatatantaṁ samprekṣya kruddho rājan dhanañjayaḥ | bhūmiṣṭho vāraṇagataṁ yodhayāmāsa bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: O König, als Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) ihn zum Angriff heranstürmen sah, entbrannte er vor Zorn. Obwohl er auf dem Boden stand, nahm er den Kampf mit dem Krieger auf, der auf dem Elefanten saß; so, o Spross der Bharatas, gab er dem Feind keinen Vorteil preis.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: when confronted by an aggressive assault, a warrior must respond with steadiness and courage, not allowing the opponent’s positional advantage (elephant-mount) to dictate one’s resolve.
As an enemy charges to attack, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) becomes angry and immediately engages him in combat. Arjuna remains on the ground while fighting an opponent who is mounted on an elephant.