Shloka 27
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
संसक्तनागौ तौ वीरौ तोमरैरितरेतरम् । बलवत् सूर्यरश्म्याभैर्भित्त्वान्योन्यं विनेदतु:,जिनके हाथी एक-दूसरेसे उलझे हुए थे, वे दोनों वीर क्षेमधूर्ति और भीमसेन सूर्यकी किरणोंके समान चमकीले तोमरोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको बलपूर्वक विदीर्ण करते हुए जोर- जोरसे गर्जने लगे राजन्! उन बाणोंसे समरांगणमें सत्यपराक्रमी सात्यकिके सारे अंग क्षत-विक्षत हो लहूलुहान हो गये और वे खिले हुए पलाशके समान सुशोभित होने लगे ।। सात्यकि: समरे विद्ध: कैकेयेन महात्मना । कैकेयं पठ्चविशत्या विव्याध प्रहसन्निव महामना कैकेय (विन्द)-के द्वारा समरांगणमें घायल हुए सात्यकिने हँसते हुए-से पचीस बाण मारकर कैकेयको भी घायल कर दिया
saṁsaktanāgau tau vīrau tomarair itaretaram | balavat sūryaraśmyābhair bhittvānyonyaṁ vinedatuḥ ||
Sanjaya said: With their elephants locked together, those two heroes struck each other with javelins that shone like the sun’s rays. Rending one another with force, they roared aloud, O King. The scene underscores the war’s relentless escalation: valor expresses itself as endurance and ferocity, while the ethical tension of battle remains—heroic duty is performed amid mutual injury and mounting destruction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle—courage and resolve even under severe danger—while also implicitly revealing the tragic symmetry of war: both sides inflict and suffer harm, and martial glory is inseparable from destruction.
Two elephant-mounted fighters (or fighters with elephants) have their elephants locked together. They hurl or thrust shining javelins at each other, pierce one another with force, and roar loudly as the duel intensifies.