Shloka 5
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
स मागधानां प्रवरो$ड्कुशग्रहे ग्रहेडप्रसह्ो विकचो यथा ग्रह: । सपत्नसेनां प्रममाथ दारुणो महीं समग्रां विकचो यथा ग्रह:
sa māgadhānāṁ pravaro 'ṅkuśagrahe grahe 'prasaho vikaco yathā grahaḥ | sapatnasenāṁ pramamātha dāruṇo mahīṁ samagrāṁ vikaco yathā grahaḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: Daṇḍadhāra, yang terunggul antara para pahlawan Magadha, menggenggam penggiring gajah (ankusha) dan tiada tandingan dalam pertempuran di atas gajah. Seperti komet menyala di antara bintang-bintang, lajunya tidak tertahan; demikian juga serangannya tidak tertanggung bagi musuh. Dan seperti komet pertanda malapetaka yang membawa bencana ke seluruh bumi, pahlawan yang menggerunkan itu menghancurkan seluruh bala tentera lawan di sana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overwhelming power in war can become like a cosmic portent—irresistible and broadly harmful—suggesting an ethical tension in kṣatriya valor: prowess may be admirable, yet its unchecked force brings collective suffering.
Sañjaya describes a foremost Magadhan warrior, expert in elephant-fighting and holding an elephant-goad, who attacks with comet-like irresistibility and devastates the opposing army, likened to a calamity-bringing comet affecting the whole earth.