Shloka 20
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तेषां रथाश्वनागाश्च प्रवराश्नोग्रपत्तय: । नानावाद्यधरै्हष्टा नृत्यन्ति च हसन्ति च,ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज सात्वतो युद्धदुर्मदः । धनुरन्यत् समादाय सज्यं कृत्वा च संयुगे
teṣāṁ rathāśvanāgāś ca pravarāś cogrāpattayaḥ | nānāvādyadharair hṛṣṭā nṛtyanti ca hasanti ca, tataḥ kruddho mahārāja sātvatō yuddhadurmadaḥ | dhanur anyat samādāya sajyaṁ kṛtvā ca saṁyuge
サञ्जयは言った。彼らの中には優れた戦車・馬・象があり、また第一級の猛き戦士たちがいた。喜びに浮かれ、さまざまな楽器を携える者を従えて、彼らは踊り笑った。するとサートヴァタ族の大王は、戦の狂気に酔うがごとく憤激し、別の弓を取り、合戦のただ中で弦を張って備えた。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse implicitly warns that celebratory pride and heedless revelry in war can quickly turn into renewed anger and violence; ethical steadiness and restraint are fragile amid battlefield emotions.
Sanjaya describes a scene of warriors with chariots, horses, and elephants rejoicing with music—dancing and laughing—after which the Sātvata king (commonly understood as Kṛṣṇa) becomes angry and, taking up another bow, strings it and prepares again for combat.