Shloka 30
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
स तु नागो द्विपरथान् हयांश्षामृद्य मारिष | प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय ततः क्रुद्धो धनंजय:,आदरणीय महाराज! उस हाथीने बहुत-से हाथियों, रथों और घोड़ोंको कुचलकर यमलोक भेज दिया। यह देख अर्जुनको बड़ा क्रोध हुआ
sa tu nāgo dviparathān hayāṁś ca āmṛdya māriṣa | prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya tataḥ kruddho dhanañjayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O revered one, that elephant trampled down many elephants, chariots, and horses, sending them to the realm of Death. Seeing this slaughter, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) was seized by fierce anger.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked destructive force in war provokes retaliatory anger, escalating violence. Ethically, it points to the chain reaction of harm: mass killing hardens resolve and fuels wrath, making restraint and discernment difficult even for righteous warriors.
A powerful war-elephant is rampaging on the battlefield, crushing elephants, chariots, and horses and thereby killing many. Witnessing this devastation, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) becomes intensely angry, setting up his response against the threat.