Shloka 61
Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)
अपरे त्रासिता नागा नाराचशरतोमरै: । तमेवाभिमुखं जग्मु: शलभा इव पावकम्
apare trāsitā nāgā nārāca-śara-tomaraiḥ | tam evābhimukhaṃ jagmuḥ śalabhā iva pāvakam ||
Sañjaya said: Other lordly elephants, terrified by Karṇa’s iron-pointed arrows, shafts, and spears, still rushed straight toward him—like moths plunging into a blazing fire. The scene reveals the grim compulsion of battle: fear does not always bring retreat, and in war’s frenzy even self-destructive courage surges forward against overwhelming force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tragic paradox of war: terror and suffering can coexist with a compulsive drive to charge forward. It cautions that in violent conflict, valor may become self-destructive when directed by frenzy, obligation, or momentum rather than discernment.
Sañjaya describes how many elephants, though wounded and frightened by Karṇa’s missiles—iron-pointed arrows, arrows, and spears—still rush directly toward Karṇa, compared to moths flying into fire.