Shloka 10
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
निपातिते दन्तिवरे पृथिव्यां त्रासाद् विकर्ण: सहसावतीर्य । तूर्ण पदान्यष्टशतानि गत्वा विविंशते: स्यन्दनममारुरोह
nipātite dantivare pṛthivyāṃ trāsād vikarṇaḥ sahasāvatīrya | tūrṇaṃ padāny aṣṭaśatāni gatvā viviṃśateḥ syandanam amāruroha ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als der mächtige Elefant zu Boden gestürzt war, sprang Vikarṇa, von Furcht gepackt, sogleich herab. Eilig floh er, legte achthundert Schritte zurück und bestieg dann den Wagen Viviṃśatis. Die Begebenheit zeigt, wie plötzliche Wendungen im Kampf die Standhaftigkeit des Geistes prüfen; Angst kann selbst einen Krieger zu sofortiger Zuflucht treiben, sodass er vom Alleingang zur Abhängigkeit vom Schutz eines Verbündeten übergeht.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological reality of battle: when circumstances abruptly turn—here, the fall of a powerful elephant—fear can overwhelm composure, prompting retreat and dependence on comrades. It invites reflection on steadiness (dhairya) and the ethical ideal of self-control under pressure.
After a great elephant is knocked down, Vikarṇa becomes frightened, jumps down, runs about eight hundred paces, and then climbs onto Viviṃśati’s chariot, seeking safety and support amid the ongoing combat.