Shloka 1
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! महात्मा अर्जुनने जब इस प्रकार युद्धके लिये ललकारा, तब धूृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधन अंकुशकी चोट खाये हुए मतवाले गजराजकी भाँति उनके कटुवचनरूपी अंकुशसे पीड़ित हो पुन: लौट पड़ा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! mahātmā Arjunena yadā evaṃ yuddhāya lalakāra, tadā Dhṛtarāṣṭraputro Duryodhanaḥ aṅkuśa-ghāta-kṣata iva matta-gajarājaḥ, tasya kaṭu-vacana-rūpeṇa aṅkuśena pīḍitaḥ punar nivṛttaḥ.
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Janamejaya! Tatkala Arjuna yang berhati agung melaungkan cabaran untuk berperang demikian, maka Duryodhana, putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra—laksana gajah raja yang mengamuk dipukul penggoad—terluka oleh penggoad berupa kata-kata pedas Arjuna, lalu berpaling kembali.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sharp, ethically charged speech can function like a ‘goad’: it checks arrogance and exposes inner instability. It also cautions that pride, when provoked, becomes volatile—like a maddened elephant—showing the moral psychology behind escalation and retreat in conflict.
Arjuna issues a direct battle-challenge. Duryodhana, stung by Arjuna’s biting words—compared to an elephant-goad—reacts like a wounded, enraged elephant and turns back again, indicating a moment of agitation and compelled withdrawal.