Shloka 10
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
ततोडर्जुनं द्वादशभि: शरोत्तमै- जनार्दनं षोडशभि: समार्पयत् । स दण्डधारस्तुरगांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि- स््ततो ननाद प्रजहास चासकृत्,तब दण्डधारने अर्जुनको बारह और भगवान् श्रीकृष्णको सोलह उत्तम बाण मारे। फिर तीन-तीन बाणोंसे उनके घोड़ोंको घायल करके वे बारंबार गर्जने और अट्टहास करने लगे
tato 'rjunaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ śarottamaiḥ janārdanaṃ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ samārpayat | sa daṇḍadhārās turagāṃs tribhis tribhis tato nanāda prajahāsa cāsakṛt ||
Then he struck Arjuna with twelve excellent arrows and showered Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) with sixteen. Next, wounding the horses with three arrows each, that wielder of the staff-like weapon roared again and again and repeatedly burst into loud laughter—an exultant display of battlefield pride and intimidation amid the relentless clash of dharma and ambition.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological dimension of warfare: prowess is paired with intimidation (roaring and loud laughter). In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such displays test steadiness and restraint, reminding readers that valor without inner discipline can slide into arrogance even within a dharma-yuddha setting.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior (described as daṇḍadhāra) shoots Arjuna with twelve fine arrows and Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) with sixteen, then strikes the horses with three arrows each, after which he repeatedly roars and laughs loudly in triumph.