Shloka 3
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
मागधो>प्यतिविक्रान्तो द्विरदेन प्रमाथिना । भगदत्तादनवर: शिक्षया च बलेन च
māgadho 'py ativikrānto dviradena pramāthinā | bhagadattād anavaraḥ śikṣayā ca balena ca ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Pārtha, auch dieser Krieger aus Magadha ist überaus tapfer. Er verfügt über einen zermalmenden Kriegselefanten, der feindliche Reihen zerbrechen kann. In den besten Künsten des Kampfes geschult und mit großer Kraft begabt, ist er durch diese Eigenschaften an Tüchtigkeit Bhagadatta keineswegs unterlegen.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prowess in war is portrayed as arising from a combination of disciplined training (śikṣā), innate or cultivated strength (bala), and effective resources (such as a powerful war-elephant). The verse highlights merit-based evaluation—judging a warrior by capability rather than reputation alone.
Sanjaya is reporting to Dhritarashtra, identifying and assessing a formidable Magadhan fighter on the battlefield. He emphasizes the warrior’s elephant and martial preparation, concluding that this combatant is not inferior in valor to the renowned Bhagadatta.