Shloka 5
अर्जुनस्य प्रतिघातः — श्रुताय्वच्युतायुवधः तथा गजसैन्यविदारणम्
Arjuna’s Counterstroke: Slaying of Śrutāyu and Acyutāyu; Breaking the Elephant Corps
महिषानप्यतिबलो बलिनो विचकर्ष ह । सिंहानां च सुदृप्तानां शतान्याकर्षयद् बलात्,भरतका बल असीम था। वे बलवान भैंसों और सौ-सौ गर्वीले सिंहोंको भी बलपूर्वक घसीट लाते थे
mahiṣān apy atibalo balino vicakarṣa ha | siṁhānāṁ ca sudṛptānāṁ śatāny ākarṣayad balāt |
ナーラダは言った。「彼の力は量り知れぬ。純然たる腕力だけで、屈強な水牛すら引きずり、驕り高ぶって猛り狂う獅子をも百、二百と力ずくで引き寄せた。」この言葉は、戦の叙事詩にふさわしく、ほとんど超人的な威力を示してその恐るべき人物像を際立たせる。
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses hyperbolic imagery to convey overwhelming strength, reminding readers that in the Mahābhārata’s war setting, power can inspire awe and fear and becomes a decisive factor that complicates dharma—since immense force, if unchecked by restraint and right purpose, can magnify harm.
Nārada is describing a person of extraordinary physical might, emphasizing that he could forcibly drag even strong buffaloes and hundreds of proud lions—an epic-style characterization meant to establish the figure’s formidable nature within the unfolding war narrative.