Shloka 9
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
त॑ शैनेय: शख्रातै: क्रुद्ध: क़ुद्धमवारयत् । कृतवर्मा च शैनेयं मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्
taṁ śaineyaḥ śakrātaiḥ kruddhaḥ kruddham avārayat | kṛtavarmā ca śaineyaṁ matto mattam iva dvipam ||
Sañjaya dit : Irrité par les traits, Śaineya, dans sa fureur, arrêta l’ennemi qui se ruait en avant. Et Kṛtavarmā, lui-même saisi d’une ivresse guerrière, vint affronter Śaineya tel un éléphant en rut et enivré rencontrant un autre éléphant enivré — la colère répondant à la colère, et la retenue devenant introuvable quand la bataille s’exaspère.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger in war tends to mirror and amplify itself—one warrior’s fury provokes another’s, creating a cycle where ethical restraint becomes difficult. The elephant simile underscores the danger of uncontrolled martial frenzy.
During the fighting in Droṇa Parva, Śaineya (Sātyaki), provoked by a shower of arrows, halts an enraged opponent. Kṛtavarmā then confronts Śaineya with equal ferocity, compared to two intoxicated elephants clashing.