Shloka 6
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
ततः प्रभिन्नेन महागजेन महीधराभेन पुनर्विकर्ण: । रथैश्नतुर्भिर्गजपादरक्षै: कुन्तीसुतं जिष्णुमथा भ्यधावत्
tataḥ prabhinnena mahāgajena mahīdharābhena punar vikarṇaḥ | rathaiś caturbhir gajapāda-rakṣaiḥ kuntīsutaṁ jiṣṇum athābhyadhāvat ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Da stürmte Vikarṇa, erneut auf einem riesigen Elefanten wie auf einem Berg reitend, dessen Schläfen vom Rauschsaft des Musth trieften, gegen Arjuna—den siegreichen Sohn Kuntīs, genannt Jiṣṇu. Mit ihm kamen vier Wagenkämpfer, als Wachen aufgestellt, um die vier Füße des Elefanten zu schützen; so zeigte sich die berechnete Disziplin und die koordinierte Gewalt des Krieges selbst inmitten persönlicher Rivalität.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the organized, duty-bound nature of kṣatriya warfare: even a single charge is supported by coordinated protection (guards for the elephant’s feet). It implicitly contrasts disciplined martial conduct with mere reckless aggression.
Vikarṇa mounts a massive rutting elephant and charges at Arjuna (Jiṣṇu), accompanied by four chariot-warriors assigned to protect the elephant’s legs, indicating a planned assault formation.