Shloka 23
Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57
परस्परं समासाद्य दंष्टा भ्यां द्विरदौ यथा । अशोभेतां महाराज शोणितेन परिप्लुतो
parasparaṁ samāsādya daṁṣṭrābhyāṁ dviradau yathā | aśobhetāṁ mahārāja śoṇitena pariplutau ||
サンジャヤは言った。「大王よ、互いに肉薄して打ち合うさまは、牙で突き合い、血に濡れた二頭の象のように輝いて見えた。」この比喩は戦いの残酷な均衡を示す。勇気と忍耐は顕れるが、その「輝き」は、戦における相互の傷という道義の代価と切り離せない。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of battlefield ‘glory’: courage and prowess may appear splendid, yet they arise through reciprocal harm. It invites reflection on the ethical weight of violence even when performed within the accepted duties of war.
Sañjaya describes two combatants locked in close combat, striking each other so fiercely that both are soaked in blood, likened to two elephants goring one another with their tusks.