Shloka 22
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
परंतु नकुलने खड्गद्वारा अपने निकट आये हुए उस हाथीकी सूँड़को दाँतोंसहित जड़से काट डाला ।। स विनद्य महानादं गज: किड्किणिभूषण: । पतन्नवाक्शिरा भूमौ हस्त्यारोहमपोथयत्,फिर तो घुघुरुओंसे विभूषित वह गजराज बड़े जोरसे चीत्कार करके नीचे मस्तक किये पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा। गिरते-गिरते उसने महावतको भी पृथ्वीपर दे मारा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | parantu nakulena khaḍgadvārā ātmanaḥ samīpam āgatasyāsya gajasya śuṇḍāṃ dantais saha mūlataś chittvā | sa vinadya mahānādaṃ gajaḥ kiṅkiṇībhūṣaṇaḥ patann avākśirā bhūmau hastyāroham apothayat |
Vaiśampāyana said: But Nakula, using his sword, cut off at the root the elephant’s trunk along with its tusks as it came close to him. Adorned with tinkling bells, the great elephant let out a thunderous cry and, collapsing headlong to the earth, struck down its rider as it fell. The scene underscores the harsh necessities of combat: swift, decisive action taken to avert immediate danger, even when it results in grievous harm.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the grim ethics of battlefield necessity: when faced with immediate lethal threat, a warrior may act decisively to neutralize danger, while recognizing that such actions carry severe consequences for all involved.
An elephant charges close to Nakula; he uses his sword to sever the trunk and tusks at the base. The elephant roars, collapses headlong, and in its fall knocks down its rider (mahout) onto the ground.