Shloka 27
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
संसक्तनागौ तौ वीरौ तोमरैरितरेतरम् । बलवत् सूर्यरश्म्याभैर्भित्त्वान्योन्यं विनेदतु:
saṁsaktanāgau tau vīrau tomarair itaretaram | balavat sūryaraśmyābhair bhittvānyonyaṁ vinedatuḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った。「象が組み合って離れぬまま、二人の勇士は太陽の光線のように輝くトーマラ（投槍）で互いを突き、力任せに裂き合って大音声で咆哮した、王よ。さらにサーティヤキは、偉大なるケーカヤの戦士に戦場で傷つけられながらも、あたかも笑うかのように二十五の矢を放って応じ、そのケーカヤをも傷つけた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle—courage and resolve even under severe danger—while also implicitly revealing the tragic symmetry of war: both sides inflict and suffer harm, and martial glory is inseparable from destruction.
Two elephant-mounted fighters (or fighters with elephants) have their elephants locked together. They hurl or thrust shining javelins at each other, pierce one another with force, and roar loudly as the duel intensifies.