Shloka 51
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
कर्णो वैकर्तन: सूत किमुत्तरमपद्यत । संजय! उस समय अपने सदाके अत्यन्त वैरी अर्जुनको सहसा सामने पाकर सूर्यपुत्र कर्णने उन्हें किस प्रकार उत्तर देनेका निश्चय किया? || ५० ई ।। संजय उवाच आयान्तं पाण्डवं दृष्टवा गजं प्रतिगजो यथा
sañjaya uvāca | āyāntaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ dṛṣṭvā gajaṃ pratigajo yathā |
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Pāṇḍava advancing, Karṇa moved to meet him—like one elephant confronting another.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣātra-dharma: when a rightful battle is joined, a warrior meets the challenge directly. The elephant simile underscores equal strength and the ethical expectation of steadfastness rather than retreat.
Sañjaya narrates that the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) is advancing, and Karṇa prepares to confront him head-on, likened to one elephant going against another—signaling an imminent, evenly matched duel.