Shloka 463
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
तमेकं द्विरदं संख्ये मेनिरे शतशो द्विपान् | उस शीघ्रगामी गजराजसे डराये हुए नरश्रेष्ठ नरेश युद्धस्थलमें उस एकको ही सैकड़ों हाथियोंके समान मानने लगे
tam ekaṁ dviradaṁ saṅkhye menire śataśo dvipān |
Sañjaya berkata: Di tengah pertempuran, mereka menganggap gajah yang satu itu menyamai ratusan gajah—begitu dahsyat wibawanya sehingga para pahlawan yang digoncang ketakutan melihat satu kekuatan seolah-olah menjadi banyak.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and awe can magnify perception: in war, psychological impact can make a single powerful force seem like many, reminding readers that inner states shape judgment as much as external facts.
During the battle, one elephant’s speed and dominance terrify the fighters; they assess it as if it were hundreds of elephants, emphasizing the chaos and heightened impressions of the battlefield.