Shloka 34
Vāraṇāvata-praveśa and Jatugṛha-saṃdeha
Entry into Vāraṇāvata and Suspicion of the Lac-House
तौ प्रदक्षिणसव्यानि मण्डलानि महाबलौ । चेरतुर्मण्डलगतौ समदाविव कुठ्जरी,वे दोनों महाबली योद्धा अपनी-अपनी गदाको दायें-बायें मण्डलाकार घुमाते हुए दो मदोन्मत्त हाथियोंकी भाँति मण्डलके भीतर विचरने लगे
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | tau pradakṣiṇasavyāni maṇḍalāni mahābalau | ceratur maṇḍalagatau samadau iva kuñjarau ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: The two mighty warriors, each whirling his mace in rightward and leftward circles, moved within the ring of combat like two equally intoxicated elephants.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent conflict, the epic highlights regulated conduct: strength is displayed through controlled form (circling, measured approach). At the same time, the elephant-simile warns that battle-intoxication and pride can overwhelm judgment, making ethical restraint fragile.
Two powerful fighters enter the combat ring and begin circling one another, swinging their maces in alternating rightward and leftward arcs, resembling two equally rutted elephants sizing each other up before a clash.