Shloka 6
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
सम्प्रेष्यमाणो नागेन्द्रो वजदत्तेन धीमता । उत्पतिष्यन्निवाकाशमभिदुद्राव पाण्डवम्,बुद्धिमान् वज्रदत्तके द्वारा हाँके जानेपर वह गजराज पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनकी ओर इस प्रकार दौड़ा, मानो आकाशमें उड़ जाना चाहता हो
sampreṣyamāṇo nāgendro vajradattena dhīmatā | utpatiṣyann ivākāśam abhidudrāva pāṇḍavam |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Didorong dan dipacu oleh Vajradatta yang bijaksana, gajah agung itu menerjang terus ke arah Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), meluru seolah-olah hendak melompat naik ke langit.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how immense strength (the elephant) becomes ethically significant only through intention and direction: power itself is neutral, but when guided by a person’s will it can serve dharma or be turned into aggression. It invites reflection on responsibility for the consequences of commanded force.
Vajradatta drives a mighty elephant forward; the elephant, seemingly ready to spring into the sky, charges directly at the Pāṇḍava hero Arjuna. The line intensifies the battle-like momentum and sets up Arjuna’s response to the onrushing threat.