Shloka 1
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! महात्मा अर्जुनने जब इस प्रकार युद्धके लिये ललकारा, तब धूृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधन अंकुशकी चोट खाये हुए मतवाले गजराजकी भाँति उनके कटुवचनरूपी अंकुशसे पीड़ित हो पुन: लौट पड़ा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! mahātmā Arjunena yadā evaṃ yuddhāya lalakāra, tadā Dhṛtarāṣṭraputro Duryodhanaḥ aṅkuśa-ghāta-kṣata iva matta-gajarājaḥ, tasya kaṭu-vacana-rūpeṇa aṅkuśena pīḍitaḥ punar nivṛttaḥ.
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «¡Oh, Janamejaya! Cuando el magnánimo Arjuna lanzó de ese modo su desafío al combate, entonces Duryodhana, hijo de Dhṛtarāṣṭra—como un elefante soberbio enloquecido al que hiere el aguijón—dolido por el aguijón de las ásperas palabras de Arjuna, volvió a darse la vuelta.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sharp, ethically charged speech can function like a ‘goad’: it checks arrogance and exposes inner instability. It also cautions that pride, when provoked, becomes volatile—like a maddened elephant—showing the moral psychology behind escalation and retreat in conflict.
Arjuna issues a direct battle-challenge. Duryodhana, stung by Arjuna’s biting words—compared to an elephant-goad—reacts like a wounded, enraged elephant and turns back again, indicating a moment of agitation and compelled withdrawal.