Shloka 11
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
प्रचोद्यमान: स गजस्तेन राज्ञा महाबल: । तदाड्कुशेन विबभावुत्पतिष्यन्निवाम्बरम्
pracodyamānaḥ sa gajastena rājñā mahābalaḥ | tad-aṅkuśena vibabhāv utpatiṣyann ivāmbaram ||
Ketika Raja Vajradatta mendorong gajah perkasa itu dengan pukulan penggiring (aṅkuśa), ia menerjang dengan lompatan dahsyat seakan hendak melesat ke angkasa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Great power, when driven by command and coercive tools, can become sudden and dangerous; the verse implicitly highlights the ethical need for restraint and accountability in directing force—especially by rulers.
The king prods the mighty elephant with an aṅkuśa, and the elephant lunges forward so forcefully that it seems as though it might leap into the sky.