Kubera’s Arrival and the Disclosure of Agastya’s Curse
Vaiśaṃpāyana–Janamejaya Narrative
अभिद्र॒ुत्य च भूयस्तावन्योन्यं बलदर्पितौ | भुजाभ्यां परिगृह्माथ चकर्षाते गजाविव,तत्पश्चात् अपने-अपने बलके घमंडमें भरे हुए वे दोनों वीर एक दूसरेकी ओर झपटकर पुनः अपनी भुजाओंसे कसते हुए विपक्षीको उसी प्रकार खींचने लगे, जैसे दो गजराज परस्पर भिड़कर एक-दूसरेको खींच रहे हों
abhidrutya ca bhūyas tāv anyonyaṁ baladarpitau | bhujābhyāṁ parigṛhya atha cakarṣāte gajāv iva ||
Dijo Vaiśaṃpāyana: Entonces, una vez más, aquellos dos—henchidos de orgullo por su fuerza—se lanzaron el uno contra el otro. Abrazándose y trabándose con los brazos, comenzaron a arrastrar y a retorcer al adversario, como dos elefantes señores que, al embestirse, se aferran y se tiran en combate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how pride in one’s power (bala-darpa) fuels repeated aggression. Strength without restraint or humility tends to escalate conflict, turning combat into a contest of ego rather than a disciplined pursuit of duty.
Two warriors charge at each other again, seize one another tightly with their arms, and begin dragging and wrenching each other, compared to two elephants locked in a pulling struggle.