Shloka 16
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
ततः पुनरभिक्रुद्धों राजा प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिप: । प्रेषयामास नागेन्द्रं बलवत् पर्वतोपमम्,तब प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरके स्वामी राजा वचद्धदत्तने अत्यन्त कुपित हो अपने पर्वताकार गजराजको पुन: बलपूर्वक आगे बढ़ाया
tataḥ punar abhikruddho rājā prāgjyotiṣādhipaḥ | preṣayāmāsa nāgendraṃ balavat parvatopamam ||
Then, once again inflamed with anger, the king—lord of Prāgjyotiṣa—forcefully sent forward the lordly elephant, mighty and mountain-like. The passage underscores how wrath can drive rulers to escalate violence by unleashing overwhelming force, often worsening conflict rather than restoring order.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger in a ruler leads to reckless escalation—deploying overwhelming force (symbolized by the mountain-like elephant). Ethically, it cautions that wrath clouds judgment and can intensify harm rather than resolve conflict through restraint and discernment.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the king of Prāgjyotiṣa, again becoming furious, orders a powerful, mountain-like elephant (nāgendra) to be sent forward—indicating a renewed, forceful push in the confrontation.