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Shloka 60

Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda

Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps

नागं जिघांसु: सहसा चिक्षेप च महाबल: । उस महाबली निशाचरने हाथीको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे एक निर्मल त्रिशूल हाथमें लिया, जो पर्वतोंको भी विदीर्ण करनेवाला था। फिर सहसा उसे चला दिया ।।

sañjaya uvāca |

nāgaṃ jighāṃsuḥ sahasā cikṣepa ca mahābalaḥ |

sa visphuliṅgamālābhiḥ samantāt pariveṣṭitaḥ |

taṃ sahasā svopari āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā prāgjyotiṣapurasya nareśo bhagadatto 'tyanta-bhayaṅkaraṃ tīkṣṇaṃ sundaraṃ cārdhacandrākāraṃ bāṇam acikṣipat |

Sañjaya sprach: Der mächtige Nachtstreifer, entschlossen, den Elefanten zu töten, schleuderte plötzlich einen makellosen Dreizack—eine Waffe, die selbst Berge zu spalten vermochte. Von allen Seiten von Girlanden feuriger Funken umkränzt, schoss der Dreizack voran. Als Bhagadatta, König von Prāgjyotiṣa, ihn geradewegs auf sich zukommen sah, schoss er einen halbmondförmigen Pfeil ab—schön, rasiermesserscharf und von schrecklicher Wucht.

नागम्elephant
नागम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जिघांसुःwishing to kill
जिघांसुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सहसाsuddenly
सहसा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
चिक्षेपthrew
चिक्षेप:
TypeVerb
Rootक्षिप्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाबलःmighty/very strong (one)
महाबलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विस्फुलिङ्ग-मालाभिःby garlands/streams of sparks
विस्फुलिङ्ग-मालाभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविस्फुलिङ्गमाला
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
समन्तात्on all sides
समन्तात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्तात्
परिवेष्टितःsurrounded/encircled
परिवेष्टितः:
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि-वेṣ्ट्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
B
Bhagadatta
P
Pragjyotishapura (Prāgjyotiṣapura)
E
elephant (nāga)
T
trident (triśūla)
C
crescent-shaped arrow (ardhacandrākāra bāṇa)
N
night-ranger/demon (niśācara; implied by the Hindi gloss)

Educational Q&A

In a dharma-framed war, a ruler’s duty includes swift protection of self and forces; lethal aggression invites immediate, proportionate counteraction, highlighting responsibility and consequence rather than hesitation.

A powerful attacker hurls a spark-wreathed trident to kill the war-elephant; Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha sees it coming at him and counters by shooting a sharp, crescent-shaped arrow.