Shloka 11
तमापततन्तं वेगेन पाण्डवं रथिनां वरम् | द्रोण: प्रत्युद्ययौ पार्थ मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्
tam āpatatantaṁ vegena pāṇḍavaṁ rathināṁ varam | droṇaḥ pratyudyayau pārtha matto mattam iva dvipam ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Al ver a Arjuna, el Pāṇḍava—el más excelso entre los guerreros de carro—cargar hacia él con gran velocidad, Droṇa avanzó para enfrentar a Pārtha. Era como un señor de los elefantes, embriagado de furia, que se precipita a chocar con otro elefante igualmente enloquecido: fuerza pareja y ímpetu feroz en pleno combate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ideal of meeting a worthy opponent directly and without hesitation. The elephant simile underscores controlled ferocity and equal strength—valor is shown not merely in attacking, but in standing one’s ground and responding with matching resolve.
Arjuna rushes forward at high speed, and Droṇa steps out to confront him. The narrator frames their encounter as a clash between two equally frenzied elephant-kings, emphasizing the intensity and parity of the impending duel.