Shloka 30
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
स तु नागो द्विपरथान् हयांश्षामृद्य मारिष | प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय ततः क्रुद्धो धनंजय:,आदरणीय महाराज! उस हाथीने बहुत-से हाथियों, रथों और घोड़ोंको कुचलकर यमलोक भेज दिया। यह देख अर्जुनको बड़ा क्रोध हुआ
sa tu nāgo dviparathān hayāṁś ca āmṛdya māriṣa | prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya tataḥ kruddho dhanañjayaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : « Ô vénérable, cet éléphant piétina et broya de nombreux éléphants, chars et chevaux, les envoyant au royaume de la Mort. À la vue de ce carnage, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) fut saisi d’une colère farouche. »
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked destructive force in war provokes retaliatory anger, escalating violence. Ethically, it points to the chain reaction of harm: mass killing hardens resolve and fuels wrath, making restraint and discernment difficult even for righteous warriors.
A powerful war-elephant is rampaging on the battlefield, crushing elephants, chariots, and horses and thereby killing many. Witnessing this devastation, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) becomes intensely angry, setting up his response against the threat.