Shloka 42
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
तमेक॑ कुण्जरं क्रुद्धा: समन्तात् पर्यवारयन् | आर्य! केकयराजकुमार, अभिमन्यु, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, शूरवीर दशार्णराज, क्षत्रदेव, चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु तथा चित्रकेतु--ये सभी महाबली वीर रोषावेषमें भरकर अपने उत्तम दिव्यास्त्रोंका प्रदर्शन करते हुए उस एकमात्र हाथीको क्रोधपूर्वक चारों ओरसे घेरकर खड़े हो गये || ४०-४१ ह || स विद्धो बहुभिर्बाणव्यरोचत महाद्विप:
sañjaya uvāca |
tam ekaṁ kuñjaraṁ kruddhāḥ samantāt paryavārayan |
āryaḥ kekayarāja-kumāraḥ, abhimanyuḥ, draupadīke pañca putrāḥ, śūravīraḥ daśārṇa-rājā, kṣatradevaḥ, cedirājaḥ dhṛṣṭaketuḥ tathā citraketuḥ—ete sarve mahābalā vīrā roṣāveśaṁ bharitāḥ sva-uttama-divyāstrāṇāṁ pradarśanaṁ kurvāṇāḥ taṁ ekamātraṁ hastinaṁ krodhapūrvakaṁ caturdiśaṁ paritaḥ paryavārayan ||
sa viddho bahubhir bāṇair vyarocat mahādvipaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Enraged, they surrounded that single elephant from every side. The noble prince of Kekaya, Abhimanyu, the five sons of Draupadī, the heroic king of Daśārṇa, Kṣatradeva, the Cedi king Dhṛṣṭaketu, and Citraketu—all these mighty warriors, filled with wrath and displaying their finest divine weapons, stood encircling that lone elephant on all quarters in anger. Pierced by many arrows, the great elephant still shone forth—its formidable presence undiminished even amid wounds.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the Kṣatriya ethos of coordinated courage and resolve in battle, while also implicitly warning that roṣa (wrath) can drive action; true martial excellence is not only power and weapons, but disciplined purpose amid intense emotion.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where several named warriors, inflamed with anger and showcasing their divine missiles, encircle a single war-elephant from all sides; though struck by many arrows, the great elephant remains visually formidable.