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Shloka 28

Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda

Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps

मदान्धा रोषसंरब्धा विषाणाग्रैर्महाहवे । बिभिदुर्दन्तमुसलै: समासाद्य परस्परम्‌

sañjaya uvāca |

madāndhā roṣasaṃrabdhā viṣāṇāgrair mahāhave |

bibhidur dantamusalaiḥ samāsādya parasparam ||

Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertempuran besar itu, gajah-gajah—dibutakan oleh musth dan dipacu oleh amarah—mendekati satu sama lain dan, bertemu secara berdepan, mengoyak sesama mereka dengan hujung gading, bagaikan belantan. Pemandangan itu menegaskan bahawa kemarahan dan mabuk yang tidak terkawal dalam perang menukar kekuatan hidup menjadi pemusnahan bersama.

मदान्धाःmaddened (blind) with intoxication
मदान्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमदान्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रोषसंरब्धाःenraged, impetuous with anger
रोषसंरब्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरोषसंरब्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विषाणाग्रैःwith the tips of (their) tusks
विषाणाग्रैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविषाणाग्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
महाहवेin the great battle
महाहवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहाहव
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
बिभिदुःthey split, they tore
बिभिदुः:
TypeVerb
Rootभिद्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural
दन्तमुसलैःwith tusk-clubs (tusks like maces)
दन्तमुसलैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदन्तमुसल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
समासाद्यhaving approached, coming together
समासाद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-सद्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
परस्परम्each other, mutually
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
E
elephants
T
tusks (viṣāṇa/danta)
G
great battle (mahāhava)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the moral danger of mada (intoxication/frenzy) and roṣa (anger): when these dominate, even great power becomes self-destructive, producing mutual harm rather than purposeful action.

Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where enraged, musth-driven elephants charge and clash at close quarters, ripping and splitting each other with their tusks, which are compared to heavy clubs.