Shloka 10
द्रोणपर्व — द्विनवति-तमोऽध्यायः
Sātyaki Pressed by Kauravas; Duryodhana and Kṛtavarmā Engagements
तान् दृष्टवा पततस्तृूणमड्कुशैरभिचोदितान् । व्यालम्बहस्तान् संरब्धान् सपक्षानिव पर्वतान्,महावतोंद्वारा अंकुशोंसे हाँके जानेपर लम्बी सूँड़ उठाये और क्रोधमें भरे, पंखधारी पर्वतोंके समान उन हाथियोंको बड़े वेगसे अपने ऊपर आते देख मनुष्योंमें सिंहके समान पराक्रमी अर्जुनने बड़े जोरसे सिंहनाद करके शत्रुओंकी उस गजसेनाका बिना किसी भयके बाणोंद्वारा संहार कर डाला
tān dṛṣṭvā patatas tūrṇam aṅkuśair abhichoditān | vyālambahastān saṃrabdhān sapakṣān iva parvatān ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing those elephants rushing swiftly—driven on by goads, their trunks raised high, and inflamed with rage, like mountains endowed with wings—Arjuna, lion-like among men, roared aloud and, without fear, cut down that enemy elephant-corps with his arrows. The passage underscores disciplined courage in battle: fearlessness is not recklessness, but steadiness of purpose in the face of overwhelming force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast courage and composure under pressure: even when confronted by a terrifying, fast-charging elephant force, the warrior acts without fear and with focused skill. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of meeting aggression with disciplined resistance rather than panic.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where enemy elephants, goaded forward with aṅkuśas and charging with raised trunks, surge toward Arjuna. Arjuna responds with a lion-like roar and uses volleys of arrows to rout and destroy the elephant-corps.