Shloka 11
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
ततोडस्य पार्थ: सगुणेषुकार्मुकं चकर्त भल्लैर्ध्वजमप्यलंकृतम् । पुनर्नियन्तृन् सह पादगोप्तृ- सतत: स चुक्रोध गिरिव्रजेश्वर:,तत्पश्चात् अर्जुनने अपने भल्लोंद्वारा प्रत्यंचा और बाणोंसहित दण्डधारके धनुष तथा सजे-सजाये ध्वजको भी काट गिराया। फिर हाथीके महावतों तथा पादरक्षकोंको भी मार डाला। इससे गिरिव्रजके स्वामी दण्डधार अत्यन्त कुपित हो उठे
tato ’sya pārthaḥ sa-guṇeṣu kārmukaṃ cakarta bhallair dhvajam apy alaṅkṛtam | punar niyantṝn saha pāda-goptṛ-s tataḥ sa cukrodha girivrajeśvaraḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ପାର୍ଥ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଭଲ୍ଲବାଣରେ ତାହାର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟଞ୍ଚାସହିତ ଧନୁଷକୁ ଖଣ୍ଡ କଲେ ଏବଂ ସୁଶୋଭିତ ଧ୍ୱଜକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପତିତ କରିଦେଲେ। ପୁଣି ସେ ମହାଉତମାନଙ୍କୁ ଓ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ପାଦରକ୍ଷକମାନଙ୍କୁ ମାରିଦେଲେ। ଏହା ଦେଖି ଗିରିବ୍ରଜର ସ୍ୱାମୀ, ଦଣ୍ଡଧାରୀ, ଭୟଙ୍କର କ୍ରୋଧରେ ଜ୍ୱଳିଉଠିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, striking an opponent’s weapons, banner, and protective retinue is not merely physical damage but an assault on morale and honor—often provoking anger. Ethically, it points to the need for inner restraint: battlefield success can inflame passions, and unchecked wrath becomes a secondary enemy.
Arjuna uses bhalla-arrows to sever the opponent’s strung bow and to cut down the decorated banner, then kills the drivers (mahouts) and the foot-guards. Seeing these losses, the ruler titled ‘lord of Girivraja’ becomes intensely enraged.