Shloka 38

Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda

Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps

Devanagari script

स नाग: प्रेषितस्तेन बाणो ज्याचोदितो यथा । अभ्यधावत वेगेन भीमसेनमरिंदमम्‌,उनके द्वारा प्रेरित होकर वह गजराज धनुषकी प्रत्यंचासे छोड़े हुए बाणकी भाँति शत्रुदमन भीमसेनकी ओर बड़े वेगसे दौड़ा

Transliteration

sa nāgaḥ preṣitas tena bāṇo jyā-codito yathā | abhyadhāvat vegena bhīmasenam arindamam ||

Translation

Disse Sañjaya: Incitado por ele, aquele elefante régio investiu contra Bhīmasena, domador de inimigos, com velocidade tremenda—como uma flecha solta da corda do arco.

Word by Word

• {'saḥ': 'he/that (referring to the elephant)', 'nāgaḥ': 'elephant

• lordly elephant', 'preṣitaḥ': 'sent forth, dispatched, impelled', 'tena': 'by him (the one who directed/urged the elephant)', 'bāṇaḥ': 'arrow', 'jyā': 'bowstring', 'coditaḥ': 'driven, propelled, released/urged', 'yathā': 'as, like', 'abhyadhāvat': 'ran toward, charged at', 'vegena': 'with speed, with force/impetus', 'bhīmasenam': 'Bhīmasena (Bhīma)', 'arindamam': 'crusher/tamer of enemies (epithet)'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nāga (the elephant/elephant-king)
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Bāṇa (arrow)
• Jyā (bowstring)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how force in battle is not merely physical but directed: a powerful being (the elephant) becomes weapon-like when propelled by another’s intent, raising ethical attention to responsibility for violence and the consequences of command.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes an elephant, urged on by someone, rushing at Bhīmasena with great speed, compared to an arrow shot from a bowstring—emphasizing the suddenness and lethal momentum of the attack.