Shloka 16
परस्पर बाणोंकी वर्षा करते हुए महामना मद्रराज तथा पाण्डववीर युधिष्ठिरके धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाका महान् शब्द इन्द्रके वजकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान जान पड़ता था ।। तौ चेरतुर्व्याप्रशिशुप्रकाशौ महावनेष्वामिषगृद्धिनाविव । विषाणिनौ नागवराविवोभौ ततक्षतु: संयति जातदर्पो,उन दोनोंका घमण्ड बढ़ा हुआ था। वे दोनों मांसके लोभसे महान् वनमें जूझते हुए व्याप्रके दो बच्चोंके समान तथा दाँतोवाले दो बड़े-बड़े गजराजोंकी भाँति युद्धस्थलमें परस्पर आघात करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca |
paraspara-bāṇānāṁ varṣāṁ kurvāṇau mahāmanā madrarājaś ca pāṇḍava-vīro yudhiṣṭhiraś ca dhanuṣaḥ praty-añcāyā mahān śabda indrasya vajrasya gaḍgaḍāhaṭa-samo babhūva ||
tau ceratur vyāghra-śiśu-prakāśau mahā-vaneṣv āmiṣa-gṛddhināv iva |
viṣāṇinau nāga-varāv ivobhau tatakṣatuḥ saṁyati jāta-darpau ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika raja Madra dan wira Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira saling menghujani panah, bunyi tali busur mereka yang gagah tampak seperti deruman vajra Indra. Didorong oleh keangkuhan perang, kedua-duanya bergerak dan bertembung seperti dua anak harimau bergelut di rimba besar kerana dahaga daging; dan seperti dua gajah jantan bertaring, mereka saling menghentam berulang-ulang di medan laga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial pride (darpa) intensifies conflict: even noble warriors can become driven by competitive fury, depicted through predatory and elephantine imagery. Ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—kṣatriya duty in war versus the inner dangers of arrogance and bloodlust.
Sañjaya describes Śalya (king of Madra) and Yudhiṣṭhira exchanging dense volleys of arrows. The bowstring’s twang is compared to Indra’s thunderbolt, and their movements and impacts are likened to tiger-cubs fighting over prey and to two great tusked elephants battering each other in battle.