Shloka 18
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
शितैरवाकिरद् बाणै: कलिड्डानां वरूथिनीम् । कालिड्रस्तु महेष्वास: पुत्रश्नास्य महारथ:
śitair avākirad bāṇaiḥ kaliḍḍānāṃ varūthinīm | kāliḍras tu maheṣvāsaḥ putraśnāsya mahārathaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : De flèches acérées, il les accabla en une pluie qui submergea l’ordonnance de bataille des Kaliḍḍas. Mais Kāliḍra—archer d’une grande maîtrise, illustre guerrier de char et fils de Putraśnā—demeura ferme pour soutenir l’assaut, montrant qu’au cœur du tumulte guerrier, la vaillance disciplinée et le devoir inébranlable se mesurent sous une pluie d’armes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under pressure: disciplined courage and duty are measured not by ease but by endurance when faced with overwhelming force.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior showers the Kaliḍḍa battle-host with sharp arrows, while Kāliḍra—described as a mighty archer and great chariot-warrior, son of Putraśnā—stands as the notable opponent in that exchange.