Shloka 8
द्रोणपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 15): युधिष्ठिर-रक्षा तथा अर्जुनस्य शरवृष्टिः
तथैव मद्रराजो5पि भीम॑ दृष्टवा महाबलम् | ससाराभिमुखस्तूर्ण शार्दूल इव कुज्जरम्,इसी प्रकार मद्रराज शल्य भी महाबली भीमसेनको देखकर तुरंत उन्हींकी ओर बढ़े, मानो सिंह किसी गजराजपर आक्रमण कर रहा हो
tathaiva madrarājo 'pi bhīmaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahābalam | sasārābhimukhas tūrṇaṁ śārdūla iva kuñjaram ||
Disse Sañjaya: Do mesmo modo, o rei de Madra, Śalya, ao ver o poderosíssimo Bhīma, arremeteu velozmente em sua direção, como um tigre investindo contra um elefante. O verso realça a determinação guerreira e o ímpeto feroz com que os campeões buscam adversários à altura no campo de batalha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya battlefield ethic: a warrior’s readiness to confront a formidable opponent without hesitation. The tiger–elephant simile conveys focused courage and aggressive resolve, while also reminding the reader that war draws out primal, forceful energies that must be governed by duty and discipline.
Sañjaya narrates that Śalya, the king of Madra, sees the powerful Bhīma on the battlefield and immediately charges straight at him, likened to a tiger attacking an elephant—signaling an imminent clash between two great fighters.