Shloka 463
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
तमेकं द्विरदं संख्ये मेनिरे शतशो द्विपान् | उस शीघ्रगामी गजराजसे डराये हुए नरश्रेष्ठ नरेश युद्धस्थलमें उस एकको ही सैकड़ों हाथियोंके समान मानने लगे
tam ekaṁ dviradaṁ saṅkhye menire śataśo dvipān |
Sañjaya dit : Au cœur de la mêlée, ils tinrent ce seul éléphant pour l’égal de centaines—tant sa présence écrasait que les guerriers, ébranlés par la peur, prenaient une force unique pour une multitude.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and awe can magnify perception: in war, psychological impact can make a single powerful force seem like many, reminding readers that inner states shape judgment as much as external facts.
During the battle, one elephant’s speed and dominance terrify the fighters; they assess it as if it were hundreds of elephants, emphasizing the chaos and heightened impressions of the battlefield.