Shloka 8
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
तौतु दृष्टवा महावीर्यो समा श्चस्तौ नरर्षभौ । बलिनौ वारणोौ यद्वद् वासितार्थे मदोत्कटौ,उन समान बलशाली महापराक्रमी नरश्रेष्ठ वीरोंने विश्राम करके पुनः हाथमें गदा ले ली और मैथुनकी इच्छावाली हथिनीके लिये लड़नेवाले दो बलवान एवं मदोन्मत्त गजराजोंके समान पुनः युद्ध आरम्भ कर दिया है, यह देखकर देवता, गन्धर्व और मनुष्य सभी अत्यन्त आश्चर्यसे चकित हो उठे
tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvīryau samāśvastau nararṣabhau | balinau vāraṇau yadvat vāsitārthe madotkaṭau ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing those two bull-like heroes—men of great prowess—who, having regained their breath, had again taken up their maces, the onlookers beheld them resume the combat. Like two powerful lordly elephants, frenzied with rut and contending for a receptive mate, they surged back into battle. Witnessing this renewed clash of strength and will, gods, Gandharvas, and men alike were struck with astonishment.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of resilience and steadfast courage: even after exhaustion, the warriors regain composure and re-enter combat. Ethically, it underscores disciplined endurance and the awe such unwavering valor inspires—while also hinting at the dangerous, passion-like force of battle through the elephant-in-rut simile.
Sañjaya describes two mighty champions who, after a brief respite, take up their maces again and restart the duel with renewed intensity. Their ferocity is compared to two powerful rut-maddened elephants fighting over a mate, and the spectacle astonishes gods, Gandharvas, and humans.