Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
यो नामन्यत वै नित्यमच्युतं च धनंजयम् । न वृष्णीन् सहितानन्यान् स्वबाहुबलदर्पितः
yo nāmanyata vai nityam acyutaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam | na vṛṣṇīn sahitān anyān svabāhubaladarpitaḥ ||
ತನ್ನ ಭುಜಬಲದ ದರ್ಪದಿಂದ ಉಬ್ಬಿದವನು, ಅಚ್ಯುತ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನನ್ನೂ ಧನಂಜಯ ಅರ್ಜುನನನ್ನೂ, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಅವರೊಡನೆ ಸೇರಿ ಬಂದ ಇತರ ವೃಷ್ಣಿಗಳನ್ನೂ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಯಥೋಚಿತವಾಗಿ ಗೌರವಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Pride in one’s own power (svabāhubaladarpitaḥ) leads to moral and strategic blindness: it makes a person dismiss those who embody steadiness (Acyuta/Kṛṣṇa), righteous prowess (Dhanaṃjaya/Arjuna), and the strength of a united community (the Vṛṣṇis).
Vaiśampāyana describes a warrior whose arrogance causes him to disregard Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, and the assembled Vṛṣṇis—setting the tone for the consequences that follow when one underestimates formidable, dharmically aligned opponents.