Shloka 11
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
तमापततन्तं वेगेन पाण्डवं रथिनां वरम् | द्रोण: प्रत्युद्ययौ पार्थ मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्
tam āpatatantaṁ vegena pāṇḍavaṁ rathināṁ varam | droṇaḥ pratyudyayau pārtha matto mattam iva dvipam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Voyant Arjuna, le Pāṇḍava—le premier des guerriers de char—fondre sur lui à grande vitesse, Droṇa s’avança à la rencontre de Pārtha. C’était comme un seigneur des éléphants, ivre de fureur, se ruant pour heurter un autre éléphant tout aussi déchaîné : prouesse égale et élan terrible de la bataille.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ideal of meeting a worthy opponent directly and without hesitation. The elephant simile underscores controlled ferocity and equal strength—valor is shown not merely in attacking, but in standing one’s ground and responding with matching resolve.
Arjuna rushes forward at high speed, and Droṇa steps out to confront him. The narrator frames their encounter as a clash between two equally frenzied elephant-kings, emphasizing the intensity and parity of the impending duel.