Shloka 15
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
कलिज्जैः सह चेदीनां निषादैश्व विशाम्पते । राजन्! इस प्रकार वहाँ बहुसंख्यक कलिंगों और निषादोंके साथ अल्पसंख्यक चेदिदेशीय सैनिकोंका बड़ा भयंकर युद्ध होने लगा || १४ $ ।।
kaliṅgaiḥ saha cedīnāṃ niṣādaiś ca viśāṃpate | rājan bahusaṅkhyakaiḥ kaliṅgaiḥ niṣādaiś ca alpasaṅkhyakaiḥ cedideśīyaiḥ sainikaiḥ saha tatra bhayānakaṃ yuddhaṃ pravavṛte || kṛtvā puruṣakāraṃ tu yathāśakti mahābalāḥ |
Sañjaya dit : Ô seigneur des peuples, ô Roi, là éclata une bataille des plus terribles : une multitude de Kalinga et de Niṣāda se heurta à une troupe moindre de soldats de Cedi. Pourtant, ces guerriers puissants, déployant leur vaillance jusqu’au bout de leurs forces, poursuivirent l’affrontement.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds puruṣakāra—human effort and valor—showing that even when outnumbered, warriors are expected to strive yathāśakti (to the limit of their capacity). Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast exertion in one’s duty amid fear and imbalance.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a fierce engagement has begun in which many Kalinga and Niṣāda fighters confront a smaller contingent of Cedi soldiers, and the combatants press forward with maximum exertion.