Shloka 11
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
वृषभो वृषभस्येव यो युद्धे न निवर्तते । शत्रोरपि महेन्द्रस्य वज़संहननो युवा
vṛṣabho vṛṣabhasyeva yo yuddhe na nivartate | śatror api mahendrasya vajrasaṃhanano yuvā ||
ସେ ବୃଷଭମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବୃଷଭ—ଯେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ କେବେ ନିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ନାହିଁ। ମହେନ୍ଦ୍ର (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର) ସଦୃଶ ଶତ୍ରୁ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ଯୁବକ, ବଜ୍ରସମ କଠୋର ଦେହଧାରୀ, ପଛୁଆ ହେଲା ନାହିଁ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises unwavering commitment to one’s warrior-duty: true valor is not merely strength, but steadfastness—refusing to retreat even when confronted by an overwhelmingly powerful foe.
The narrator describes a heroic fighter’s battlefield nature through strong similes: he is ‘bull-like’ in dominance and resolve, and ‘vajra-bodied’ in toughness, standing firm even against an enemy likened to Indra.