Shloka 55
महाराज! इस प्रकार द्रोणाचार्य और धृष्टद्युम्ममें भीष्मके लिये यह घोररूप एवं भयानक महायुद्ध हुआ ।। अर्जुन: प्राप्य गाड़ेयं पीडयन् निशितै: शरै: । अभ्यद्रवत संयत्तो वने मत्तमिव द्विपम्
arjunaḥ prāpya gāḍheyaṃ pīḍayan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | abhyadravat saṃyatto vane mattam iva dvipam ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, in this manner a dreadful and terrifying great battle arose for Bhīṣma’s sake between Droṇācārya and Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Then Arjuna, having reached close quarters, pressed hard with sharp arrows and charged forward in full readiness—like an intoxicated elephant rushing through a forest.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: disciplined readiness (saṃyattaḥ) and resolute engagement, while also showing how war’s ferocity can resemble uncontrolled natural force—raising an ethical tension between necessary duty and the terrifying momentum of violence.
Sañjaya reports that a fierce clash has formed around Bhīṣma, involving Droṇa and Dhṛṣṭadyumna. In that context Arjuna closes in and intensifies the assault with sharp arrows, rushing forward like a maddened elephant in a forest.