Shloka 60
नागं जिघांसु: सहसा चिक्षेप च महाबल: । उस महाबली निशाचरने हाथीको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे एक निर्मल त्रिशूल हाथमें लिया, जो पर्वतोंको भी विदीर्ण करनेवाला था। फिर सहसा उसे चला दिया ।। ५९ ह ।। स विस्फुलिड्रमालाभि: समन्तात् परिवेष्टित:,वह त्रिशूल चारों ओरसे आगकी चिनगारियोंके समूहसे घिरा हुआ था। उसे सहसा अपने ऊपर आते देख प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरके नरेश भगदत्तने अत्यन्त भयंकर तीक्ष्ण और सुन्दर एक अर्धचन्द्राकार बाण चलाया
sañjaya uvāca |
nāgaṃ jighāṃsuḥ sahasā cikṣepa ca mahābalaḥ |
sa visphuliṅgamālābhiḥ samantāt pariveṣṭitaḥ |
taṃ sahasā svopari āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā prāgjyotiṣapurasya nareśo bhagadatto 'tyanta-bhayaṅkaraṃ tīkṣṇaṃ sundaraṃ cārdhacandrākāraṃ bāṇam acikṣipat |
Sanjaya said: The mighty night-ranger, intent on killing the elephant, suddenly hurled a spotless trident—one capable of rending even mountains. Encircled on all sides by garlands of fiery sparks, that trident rushed forward. Seeing it coming straight upon him, Bhagadatta, king of Pragjyotisha, shot a very dreadful, razor-sharp, beautiful arrow shaped like a half-moon. Ethically, the scene underscores the battlefield’s harsh reciprocity: lethal intent is met by swift, skillful counteraction, where protection of one’s force (and one’s duty as a warrior-king) demands immediate response.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a dharma-framed war, a ruler’s duty includes swift protection of self and forces; lethal aggression invites immediate, proportionate counteraction, highlighting responsibility and consequence rather than hesitation.
A powerful attacker hurls a spark-wreathed trident to kill the war-elephant; Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha sees it coming at him and counters by shooting a sharp, crescent-shaped arrow.