Shloka 20
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
जैसे मदकी धारा बहानेवाले दो विशाल गजयूथपतियोंमें लड़ाई होती है, उसी प्रकार सेनासहित उन दोनों वृद्ध नरेशोंमें बड़ा भयंकर युद्ध होने लगा ।। विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ विराट मत्स्यमार्च्छताम् । सहसैन्यौ सहानीकं यथेन्द्राग्नी पुरा बलिम्
vindānuvindāv āvantyau virāṭa-matsya-mārcchatām | sahasainyau sahānīkaṁ yathendrāgnī purā balim ||
Sañjaya berkata: Vindā dan Anuvindā dari Avanti mara menyerbu Virāṭa, raja Matsya. Dengan bala tentera dan susunan tempur, mereka menimpa baginda sebagaimana Indra dan Agni pada zaman dahulu menyerang Bali. Maka, di tengah-tengah angkatan, tercetuslah pertembungan yang ganas—gambaran daya perang yang melimpah-ruah, ketika keberanian dan dharma kewajipan mendorong raja-raja ke medan bahaya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ethos of confronting conflict directly: warriors and kings, bound by duty and honor, engage in battle with full force. The comparison to gods attacking Bali frames the encounter as momentous and relentless, highlighting how power and obligation can intensify violence.
Vindā and Anuvindā, princes of Avanti, rush with their troops and formations against Virāṭa, king of the Matsyas. Their assault is likened to Indra and Agni’s ancient attack on Bali, emphasizing the ferocity and scale of the clash.