Shloka 18
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
त्रिगर्तराज: सुरथस्तस्याथ रथधूर्गत: । रथमाक्षेपयामास गजेन गजयानवित्,तदनन्तर हाथीका संचालन करनेमें निपुण त्रिगर्तराज सुरथने नकुलके रथके धुरेके पास पहुँचकर अपने हाथीके द्वारा उनके रथको दूर फेंकवा दिया
trigartarājaḥ surathas tasyātha rathadhūrgataḥ | ratham ākṣepayāmāsa gajena gajayānavit ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Suratha, the king of the Trigartas, skilled in driving elephants, brought his elephant up to the yoke-pole of that chariot and, with the force of his elephant, hurled the chariot away.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the volatility of conflict: strength and tactical skill can abruptly shift advantage, so a warrior’s steadiness, alertness, and restraint are continually tested amid sudden reversals.
Suratha, king of the Trigartas, maneuvers his elephant up to the chariot’s yoke/shaft area and uses the elephant’s force to fling the opponent’s chariot away, demonstrating elephant-warfare tactics against chariots.