Shloka 12
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
यस्य ज्यातलशब्देन शरवृष्टिरवेण च । रथाश्वनरमातज् नावतिष्ठन्ति संयुगे,जिसकी प्रत्यंचाकी टंकार तथा बाण-वर्षके भयंकर शब्दसे भयभीत हो रथी, घुड़सवार, गजारोही और पैदल सैनिक युद्धमें सामने नहीं ठहर पाते थे
yasya jyātalaśabdena śaravṛṣṭiraveṇa ca | rathāśvanaramātaṅgā na avatiṣṭhanti saṁyuge ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Au claquement aigu de sa corde d’arc et au rugissement terrible de sa pluie de flèches, conducteurs de chars, cavaliers, guerriers montés sur éléphants et fantassins ne pouvaient tenir leur position dans la mêlée.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how psychological force—fear produced by a warrior’s bow-twang and relentless arrows—can decide battles. Ethically, it points to war’s reality: courage and steadiness (dhairya) are tested not only by weapons but by terror and morale.
Vaiśampāyana describes a formidable warrior whose bowstring’s twang and arrow-storm create such a frightening din that all four arms of the army—chariots, cavalry, elephants, and infantry—fail to hold their ground in the fight.