Shloka 8
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
युद्धार्थी वासिताहेतोर्गज: प्रतिगजं यथा । भीमसेनं ययौ शल्यो मद्राणामी श्वरो बली
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yuddhārthī vāsitāhetor gajaḥ pratigajaṃ yathā | bhīmasenaṃ yayau śalyo madrāṇām īśvaro balī ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : De même qu’un éléphant, avide de combattre pour une éléphante, s’avance pour affronter un rival, ainsi le puissant Śalya, seigneur des Madras, alla au-devant de Bhīmasena pour le combat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how powerful beings can be propelled into conflict by personal motives—here symbolized by an elephant fighting for a mate—suggesting that desire and rivalry can intensify violence and override restraint, even within a warrior culture.
The narrator describes Śalya, the strong ruler of the Madras, advancing to confront Bhīmasena in battle, using the vivid comparison of one elephant moving to clash with another.