Shloka 496
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
द्विगुणं जवमास्थाय कम्पयंश्नरणैर्महीम् । भगदत्तसे प्रेरित होकर कालके भेजे हुए यमराजकी भाँति वह मदसख्रावी गजराज दूने वेगका आश्रय ले अपने पैरोंकी धमकसे इस पृथ्वीको कँपाता हुआ उन सबकी ओर दौड़ा
sañjaya uvāca | dviguṇaṃ javam āsthāya kampayañ charaṇair mahīm |
Sañjaya said: Doubling its speed, the mighty elephant shook the earth with the pounding of its feet as it charged forward—like Death itself unleashed in battle, driven on by Bhagadatta’s command.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how martial power, when directed by a commander, can become overwhelming and death-like in its effects; it implicitly warns that unchecked force in war rapidly turns into widespread destruction, shaking the very foundations of order.
Sañjaya describes a war-elephant, urged on under Bhagadatta’s leadership, suddenly accelerating to a doubled pace and charging so heavily that its footsteps make the ground tremble, intensifying the terror and momentum of the battle scene.