Shloka 10
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
ततोडर्जुनं द्वादशभि: शरोत्तमै- जनार्दनं षोडशभि: समार्पयत् । स दण्डधारस्तुरगांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि- स््ततो ननाद प्रजहास चासकृत्
tato 'rjunaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ śarottamaiḥ janārdanaṃ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ samārpayat | sa daṇḍadhārās turagāṃs tribhis tribhis tato nanāda prajahāsa cāsakṛt ||
Então ele atingiu Arjuna com doze excelentes flechas e alvejou Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) com dezesseis. Em seguida, ferindo os cavalos com três flechas em cada um, aquele que empunhava a arma em forma de bastão rugiu repetidas vezes e, muitas vezes, irrompeu em alta gargalhada.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological dimension of warfare: prowess is paired with intimidation (roaring and loud laughter). In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such displays test steadiness and restraint, reminding readers that valor without inner discipline can slide into arrogance even within a dharma-yuddha setting.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior (described as daṇḍadhāra) shoots Arjuna with twelve fine arrows and Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) with sixteen, then strikes the horses with three arrows each, after which he repeatedly roars and laughs loudly in triumph.