Shloka 3
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय २७: सुशर्माह्वानम्, अर्जुनस्य प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, भगदत्तेन गजप्रहारः
यथा प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा गजेन मधुसूदन । त्वरमाणो विनिष्क्रान्तो ध्रुवं तस्यैष नि:ःस्वन:,“मधुसूदन! राजा भगदत्त अपने हाथीपर सवार जिस प्रकार उतावलीके साथ युद्धके लिये निकले थे, उससे जान पड़ता है निश्चय ही यह महान् कोलाहल उन्हींका है
sañjaya uvāca |
yathā prāgjyotiṣo rājā gajena madhusūdana |
tvaramāṇo viniṣkrānto dhruvaṃ tasyaiva niḥsvanaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Madhusūdana! Seperti raja Prāgjyotiṣa dahulu meluru keluar dengan tergesa-gesa menaiki gajahnya, demikian juga gemuruh yang menggelegar ini pasti miliknya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment amid chaos: even in the moral confusion of war, one must identify causes and agents accurately. It also underscores how a warrior’s distinctive presence (here, Bhagadatta on his elephant) becomes recognizable by signs such as sound, reminding listeners that actions in war carry clear, traceable responsibility.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a great uproar is heard on the battlefield. Addressing Kṛṣṇa as Madhusūdana, he infers that the noise must be Bhagadatta—the king of Prāgjyotiṣa—who is known for charging into battle swiftly while mounted on his elephant.