Shloka 15
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
कलिज्जैः सह चेदीनां निषादैश्व विशाम्पते । राजन्! इस प्रकार वहाँ बहुसंख्यक कलिंगों और निषादोंके साथ अल्पसंख्यक चेदिदेशीय सैनिकोंका बड़ा भयंकर युद्ध होने लगा || १४ $ ।।
kaliṅgaiḥ saha cedīnāṃ niṣādaiś ca viśāṃpate | rājan bahusaṅkhyakaiḥ kaliṅgaiḥ niṣādaiś ca alpasaṅkhyakaiḥ cedideśīyaiḥ sainikaiḥ saha tatra bhayānakaṃ yuddhaṃ pravavṛte || kṛtvā puruṣakāraṃ tu yathāśakti mahābalāḥ |
Sañjaya disse: Ó senhor dos povos, ó Rei—ali irrompeu uma batalha terrível: muitos Kalingas e Niṣādas chocaram-se com uma força menor de soldados de Cedi. Ainda assim, aqueles guerreiros poderosos, empregando seu esforço varonil até o limite de suas forças, avançaram na contenda.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds puruṣakāra—human effort and valor—showing that even when outnumbered, warriors are expected to strive yathāśakti (to the limit of their capacity). Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast exertion in one’s duty amid fear and imbalance.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a fierce engagement has begun in which many Kalinga and Niṣāda fighters confront a smaller contingent of Cedi soldiers, and the combatants press forward with maximum exertion.