Shloka 11
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
ततोडस्य पार्थ: सगुणेषुकार्मुकं चकर्त भल्लैर्ध्वजमप्यलंकृतम् । पुनर्नियन्तृन् सह पादगोप्तृ- सतत: स चुक्रोध गिरिव्रजेश्वर:
tato ’sya pārthaḥ sa-guṇeṣu kārmukaṃ cakarta bhallair dhvajam apy alaṅkṛtam | punar niyantṝn saha pāda-goptṛ-s tataḥ sa cukrodha girivrajeśvaraḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Alors Pārtha (Arjuna), de ses flèches bhalla acérées, mit en pièces son arc avec sa corde, et abattit aussi son étendard richement orné. Ensuite il tua les conducteurs (mahouts) ainsi que les gardes à pied qui les protégeaient. Là-dessus, le seigneur de Girivraja, manieur de l’arme semblable à un bâton, s’embrasa d’une colère extrême—son courroux monta, frappé de stupeur en voyant ses insignes guerriers et ses protecteurs anéantis dans la mêlée.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, striking an opponent’s weapons, banner, and protective retinue is not merely physical damage but an assault on morale and honor—often provoking anger. Ethically, it points to the need for inner restraint: battlefield success can inflame passions, and unchecked wrath becomes a secondary enemy.
Arjuna uses bhalla-arrows to sever the opponent’s strung bow and to cut down the decorated banner, then kills the drivers (mahouts) and the foot-guards. Seeing these losses, the ruler titled ‘lord of Girivraja’ becomes intensely enraged.