Shloka 38
Adhyāya 33: Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma) is welcomed and takes his seat to witness the gadā-engagement
तदाह्वानममृष्यन् वै तव पुत्रो$तिवीर्यवान् । प्रत्युपस्थित एवाशु मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्
tadāhvānam amṛṣyan vai tava putro 'tivīryavān | pratyupasthita evāśu matto mattam iva dvipam, mahārāja ||
Sañjaya berkata: Tidak mampu menahan cabaran itu, putera tuanku yang luar biasa gagah segera mara untuk menyahutnya, wahai Raja—bagaikan seekor gajah mabuk meluru bertemu seekor lagi gajah raja yang sedang mengganas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intolerance of insult and wounded pride can overpower restraint, pushing even a capable warrior into immediate confrontation. Ethically, it points to the danger of letting ego and rage dictate action, thereby accelerating violence in war.
Bhīma issues a forceful challenge; Duryodhana cannot bear it and promptly steps forward to face him. Sañjaya describes this rapid escalation with a vivid simile: one maddened elephant rushing to meet another.