Shloka 41
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
त॑ वारणं वारणयुद्धकोविदो द्विपोत्तमं पर्वतसानुसंनि भम् । समभ्यतिष्ठन्मलयध्वजस्त्वरन् यथाद्रिशृज्ं हरिरुन्नदंस्तथा,परंतु गजयुद्धविशारद मलयध्वज पाण्ड्यनरेश पर्वतशिखरके समान ऊँचे उस श्रेष्ठ गजराजपर उतनी ही शीघ्रताके साथ चढ़ गये, जैसे दहाड़ता हुआ सिंह किसी पहाड़की चोटीपर चढ़ जाता है
taṁ vāraṇaṁ vāraṇa-yuddha-kovido dvipottamaṁ parvata-sānu-saṁnibham | samabhyatiṣṭhan malaya-dhvajaḥ tvaran yathādri-śṛṅgaṁ harir unnadan tathā ||
Sañjaya said: Skilled in the combat of elephants, Malaya-dhvaja swiftly mounted that foremost of elephants, towering like a mountain-peak. He climbed it with the same sudden force as a roaring lion springs up onto a crag—an image that underscores the warrior’s trained courage and the relentless momentum of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined courage and specialized martial competence: a ruler trained in a particular mode of warfare acts decisively in crisis. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness and readiness in battle, while also reminding the reader that war’s momentum is driven by skill and resolve.
Sañjaya describes Malaya-dhvaja, renowned for elephant-combat, quickly mounting a massive war-elephant that looks like a mountain. The action is compared to a roaring lion leaping onto a mountain summit, emphasizing speed, dominance, and battlefield intensity.