Shloka 16
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
परस्पर बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हुए महामना मद्रराज तथा पाण्डववीर युधिष्ठिरके धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाका महान् शब्द इन्द्रके वजकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान जान पड़ता था ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
paraspara-bāṇānāṁ varṣāṁ kurvāṇau mahāmanā madrarājaś ca pāṇḍava-vīro yudhiṣṭhiraś ca dhanuṣaḥ praty-añcāyā mahān śabda indrasya vajrasya gaḍgaḍāhaṭa-samo babhūva ||
tau ceratur vyāghra-śiśu-prakāśau mahā-vaneṣv āmiṣa-gṛddhināv iva |
viṣāṇinau nāga-varāv ivobhau tatakṣatuḥ saṁyati jāta-darpau ||
Sañjaya dijo: Mientras el magnánimo rey de Madra y el héroe Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira se cubrían mutuamente con lluvia de flechas, el poderoso chasquido de sus arcos parecía el trueno del vajra de Indra. Enardecidos de orgullo en el fragor, se movían y se acometían como dos cachorros de tigre que forcejean en un gran bosque por ansia de carne; y, como dos elefantes señoriales de colmillos, se golpeaban una y otra vez en el campo de batalla.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial pride (darpa) intensifies conflict: even noble warriors can become driven by competitive fury, depicted through predatory and elephantine imagery. Ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—kṣatriya duty in war versus the inner dangers of arrogance and bloodlust.
Sañjaya describes Śalya (king of Madra) and Yudhiṣṭhira exchanging dense volleys of arrows. The bowstring’s twang is compared to Indra’s thunderbolt, and their movements and impacts are likened to tiger-cubs fighting over prey and to two great tusked elephants battering each other in battle.