Shloka 566
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
महाद्विपेनेव वने मत्तेन हरियूथपम् | तब अर्जुनने प्रसन्नचित्त होकर भगवान् श्रीकृष्णसे कहा--“भगवन्! देखिये, जैसे कोई सिंहोंका यूथपषति वनमें मतवाले महान् गजके साथ क्रीडा करे, उसी प्रकार कुरुकुलशिरोमणि भूरिश्रवा वृष्णिवंशके प्रमुख वीर सात्यकिके साथ रणक्रीडा कर रहे हैं!
sañjaya uvāca | mahādvipeṇeva vane mattena hariyūthapam | tad arjunena prasannacitto bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇase kahā— “bhagavan! dekhie, jaise koī siṃhoṃkā yūthapati vanameṃ matavāle mahān gajake sātha krīḍā kare, usī prakāra kurukulaśiromaṇi bhūriśravā vṛṣṇivaṃśake pramukha vīra sātyakike sātha raṇakrīḍā kara rahe haiṃ!”
サンジャヤは言った。自信に心を明るくしたアルジュナは、主シュリー・クリシュナにこう告げた。「おお、吉祥なる御方よ、ご覧ください。森にて獅子の群れの長が、酔い狂う大象を弄ぶように、俱盧族の冠玉たるブーリシュラヴァは、ヴリシュニ族随一の勇士サーティヤキと、戦を戯れのごとく繰り広げております！」この譬えは戦の道義的緊張を示す。強者には武威が「遊び」に見えても、巻き込まれる者には死活の現実なのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial superiority can make combat seem like ‘sport’ to a powerful warrior, raising an ethical contrast between the warrior’s exhilaration and the grave human cost of battle—an implicit reminder that dharma in war demands restraint and awareness, not mere intoxication with strength.
Sanjaya reports that Arjuna, encouraged and attentive, points out to Kṛṣṇa the duel where Bhūriśravā is engaging Sātyaki. Arjuna frames it through a vivid simile: a lion-chief playing with a musth elephant, suggesting Bhūriśravā’s aggressive dominance and the ferocity of the encounter.