Shloka 5
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
ततः कर्णमुखानू् दृष्ट्वा क्षत्रियान् युद्धदुर्मदान् । सम्पेततुरभीतौ तौ गजौ प्रतिगजानिव
tataḥ karṇamukhān dṛṣṭvā kṣatriyān yuddha-durmadān | sampetatū rabhītau tau gajau pratigajān iva ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors, voyant les guerriers kṣatriya—menés par Karṇa—enflés d’orgueil sous la frénésie du combat, les deux frères, sans crainte, se ruèrent sur eux, tels deux éléphants en rut chargeant des éléphants adverses.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights Kṣatriya-dharma as fearless confrontation in battle, while also warning that war can breed durmada—reckless pride or intoxication—which ethically clouds judgment and hastens destruction.
Karṇa and other battle-frenzied Kṣatriyas advance; in response, two brothers charge at them without fear, compared to two powerful elephants rushing against rival elephants.