Shloka 5
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
स मागधानां प्रवरो$ड्कुशग्रहे ग्रहेडप्रसह्ो विकचो यथा ग्रह: । सपत्नसेनां प्रममाथ दारुणो महीं समग्रां विकचो यथा ग्रह:
sa māgadhānāṁ pravaro 'ṅkuśagrahe grahe 'prasaho vikaco yathā grahaḥ | sapatnasenāṁ pramamātha dāruṇo mahīṁ samagrāṁ vikaco yathā grahaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Daṇḍadhāra, le plus éminent des guerriers de Magadha, tenant l’aiguillon à éléphant, n’avait pas d’égal dans le combat sur éléphant. Tel un comète flamboyante parmi les astres, son élan était irrésistible ; ainsi son assaut était insoutenable pour l’ennemi. Et comme une comète de mauvais augure qui apporte le malheur à toute la terre, ce héros redoutable broya là l’armée adverse tout entière.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overwhelming power in war can become like a cosmic portent—irresistible and broadly harmful—suggesting an ethical tension in kṣatriya valor: prowess may be admirable, yet its unchecked force brings collective suffering.
Sañjaya describes a foremost Magadhan warrior, expert in elephant-fighting and holding an elephant-goad, who attacks with comet-like irresistibility and devastates the opposing army, likened to a calamity-bringing comet affecting the whole earth.