Shloka 31
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 114 — Karṇa–Bhīmasena Missile Exchange, Disarmament, and Arjuna’s Intervention
हस्तिशिक्षाविदश्नैव सर्वे चैवाग्नियोनय: । एते विनिर्जिता: संख्ये संग्रामे सव्यसाचिना,'ये रणदुर्मद किरात इन हाथियोंके महावत और इन्हें शिक्षा देनेमें कुशल हैं। ये सब-के-सब अग्निसे उत्पन्न हुए हैं। सव्यसाची अर्जुनने इन सबको संग्रामभूमिमें पराजित कर दिया था
sañjaya uvāca |
hastiśikṣāvidaś caiva sarve caivāgnayonayaḥ |
ete vinirjitāḥ saṅkhye saṅgrāme savyasācinā ||
Sañjaya said: “These men—skilled in the training and handling of elephants—are all of fiery origin. Yet in the press of battle, in the very reckoning of war, they were overcome by Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even formidable, highly trained forces—described as ‘fire-born’ to stress their fierce nature—can be subdued when confronted by superior discipline, strategy, and heroic prowess. The verse underscores how martial excellence and resolve can overturn intimidating appearances in war.
Sañjaya reports that a group associated with war-elephants—expert handlers/trainers, portrayed as exceptionally fierce (‘born of fire’)—had previously been decisively defeated by Arjuna (Savyasācin) in the thick of battle.