Shloka 8
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
ते तान् ग्राम्यगजान् दृष्टवा सर्वे वनगजास्तदा । समाद्रवन्त वेगेन जिघांसन्तो मदोत्कटा:,तब वनमें रहनेवाले उन सभी मदोन्मत्त गजोंने उन ग्रामीण हाथियोंको देखकर उन्हें मार डालनेकी इच्छासे उनपर वेगपूर्वक आक्रमण किया
te tān grāmyagajān dṛṣṭvā sarve vanagajāstadā | samādravanta vegena jighāṃsanto madotkaṭāḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: Then all those forest elephants, swollen with rut, saw the village elephants and charged at them at full speed, driven by the desire to kill. The scene underscores how unchecked intoxication and aggression (mada) can turn strength into blind violence, disrupting order and safety.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of mada—intoxicating pride or rut—where power without restraint becomes destructive. It implicitly values self-control and disciplined strength as dharmic virtues.
Wild forest elephants, excited by rut, see domesticated village elephants and rush at them violently, intending to kill, creating a sudden and dangerous clash.