Shloka 24
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
गात्रा भ्यन्तरगो भूत्वा करेणाताडयन्मुहु: । लालयामास तं नागं वधाकाड्क्षिणमव्ययम्,वे उसके शरीरके नीचे होकर हाथसे बारंबार थपथपाते हुए वधकी आकांक्षा रखनेवाले उस अविनाशी गजराजको लाड़-प्यार करने लगे
gātrābhyantarago bhūtvā kareṇātāḍayan muhuḥ | lālayāmāsa taṃ nāgaṃ vadhākāṅkṣiṇam avyayam ||
サञ्जयは語った。象の胴の下へと滑り込み、彼は手で幾度も叩き撫でて、その象王を宥め、慈しんだ――屈せず、揺るがず、まるで滅びぬかのように強靭でありながら、なお殺意を抱くその獣を。ここには、暴力のただ中にあっても、技と沈着な機転が、即座の殺戮ではなく静かな制御によって荒ぶる攻勢をそらし得ることが示されている。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a battlefield setting, mastery is not only force but composure and intelligent restraint—meeting lethal intent with presence of mind, control, and sometimes a disarming gentleness that redirects violence.
Sañjaya describes a warrior moving under an elephant’s body and repeatedly patting it, calming and handling the powerful animal even though it is eager to kill, portraying a moment of tactical daring and control amid combat.