Shloka 8
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
तौतु दृष्टवा महावीर्यो समा श्चस्तौ नरर्षभौ । बलिनौ वारणोौ यद्वद् वासितार्थे मदोत्कटौ
tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvīryau samāśvastau nararṣabhau | balinau vāraṇau yadvat vāsitārthe madotkaṭau ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Al ver a aquellos dos héroes de gran valentía—toros entre los hombres—iguales en fuerza, que tras recobrar el aliento volvieron a empuñar la maza y reanudaron el combate, parecían dos poderosos reyes elefantes, enloquecidos por el celo, disputándose una hembra dispuesta. Ante ese choque renovado, dioses, Gandharvas y hombres quedaron sobrecogidos de asombro.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of resilience and steadfast courage: even after exhaustion, the warriors regain composure and re-enter combat. Ethically, it underscores disciplined endurance and the awe such unwavering valor inspires—while also hinting at the dangerous, passion-like force of battle through the elephant-in-rut simile.
Sañjaya describes two mighty champions who, after a brief respite, take up their maces again and restart the duel with renewed intensity. Their ferocity is compared to two powerful rut-maddened elephants fighting over a mate, and the spectacle astonishes gods, Gandharvas, and humans.