Shloka 4
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
विकत्थमान: शौर्येण सर्वलोकथनुर्थरम् । दर्पोत्सेधगृहीतो5द्य न कज्चिद् गणयन् मृथे,अश्वत्थामाने कहा--दुर्बुद्धि! नराधम! मेरे मामा सम्पूर्ण जगतके श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर एवं शूरवीर हैं। ये अर्जुनके सच्चे गुणोंका बखान कर रहे थे, तो भी तू द्वेषवश अपनी शूरताकी डींग हाँकता हुआ और घमण्डमें आकर आज युद्धमें किसीको कुछ न समझता हुआ जो इन्हें फटकार रहा है, उसका क्या कारण है?
vikatthamānaḥ śauryeṇa sarvalokadhanurdharam | darpotsedhagṛhīto 'dya na kaścid gaṇayan mṛdhe ||
Sañjaya said: “Boasting of his own prowess, and seized today by the swelling pride of arrogance, he scolds in the midst of battle that foremost bowman, renowned throughout all the worlds, counting no one as worthy of regard.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and boastfulness distort judgment: a warrior, intoxicated by arrogance, loses proper respect and restraint in speech, even toward a universally renowned archer—an ethical warning about self-control amid conflict.
Sañjaya describes a combatant who, carried away by pride, is boasting of his valor and harshly rebuking a celebrated archer on the battlefield, treating everyone as insignificant.