Shloka 61
Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)
अपरे त्रासिता नागा नाराचशरतोमरै: । तमेवाभिमुखं जग्मु: शलभा इव पावकम्,दूसरे बहुत-से गजराज कर्णके नाराचों, शरों और तोमरोंसे संत्रस्त हो जैसे पतंगे आगमें कूद पड़ते हैं, उसी प्रकार कर्णके सम्मुख चले जाते थे
apare trāsitā nāgā nārāca-śara-tomaraiḥ | tam evābhimukhaṃ jagmuḥ śalabhā iva pāvakam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Gajah-gajah agung yang lain, meski digeruni oleh anak panah berhujung besi, batang panah dan lembing Karṇa, tetap juga menerpa terus ke arahnya—seperti rama-rama yang terjun ke dalam api yang menyala marak. Pemandangan itu menyingkap paksaan ngeri medan perang: ketakutan tidak semestinya membawa undur, dan dalam kegilaan perang, keberanian yang memusnahkan diri pun boleh meluru menentang kekuatan yang mengatasi segalanya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tragic paradox of war: terror and suffering can coexist with a compulsive drive to charge forward. It cautions that in violent conflict, valor may become self-destructive when directed by frenzy, obligation, or momentum rather than discernment.
Sañjaya describes how many elephants, though wounded and frightened by Karṇa’s missiles—iron-pointed arrows, arrows, and spears—still rush directly toward Karṇa, compared to moths flying into fire.