Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 44
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
सुष्वाप रजनीं तां तु विशल्य इव कुञ्जर: । श्रीकृष्णके चले जानेपर उस समय धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरने अपने सब भाइयों तथा पांचालों और सोमकोंको भी विदा करके रातमें अंकुशरहित हाथीके समान शयन किया ।।
suṣvāpa rajanīṁ tāṁ tu viśalya iva kuñjaraḥ |
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେ ରାତିରେ ସେ ବାଣବେଦନାରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ ହାତୀ ପରି ନିଶ୍ଚିନ୍ତ ଭାବେ ଶୋଇଲା।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to show how relief from a piercing burden brings deep rest; in the war-epic context, it highlights the human cycle of strain and temporary respite, without implying that the moral weight of the conflict has ended.
Sañjaya reports that the person in focus spent that night sleeping soundly, compared to an elephant whose embedded dart has been removed—suggesting physical and mental ease after prior tension.
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