Shloka 2
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
स ध्यात्वा सुचिरं काल॑ दुः:खरोषसमन्वित: । श्वसमानो यथा नाग: प्रणुन्नो वाकुशलाकया
sa dhyātvā suciraṃ kālaṃ duḥkha-roṣa-samanvitaḥ | śvasamāno yathā nāgaḥ praṇunno vāg-uśalākayā ||
Sañjaya said: After pondering for a long time, overcome with grief and anger, he breathed heavily; like an elephant goaded by a speech-like hook, he felt the sting of inner torment.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical power of speech: sharp words can act like a goad, provoking grief and anger that disturb inner balance. It implicitly values restraint and mindful speech, especially when decisions carry moral and social consequences.
Sañjaya describes a person who, after long reflection, is overwhelmed by sorrow and wrath and begins to breathe heavily. The simile compares his agitation to an elephant prodded by a hook—here, the ‘hook’ is cutting speech that has pierced and unsettled him.