Shloka 11
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
ततोडस्य पार्थ: सगुणेषुकार्मुकं चकर्त भल्लैर्ध्वजमप्यलंकृतम् । पुनर्नियन्तृन् सह पादगोप्तृ- सतत: स चुक्रोध गिरिव्रजेश्वर:
tato ’sya pārthaḥ sa-guṇeṣu kārmukaṃ cakarta bhallair dhvajam apy alaṅkṛtam | punar niyantṝn saha pāda-goptṛ-s tataḥ sa cukrodha girivrajeśvaraḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: Então Pārtha (Arjuna), com flechas bhalla afiadas, despedaçou o arco com a corda e derrubou também o estandarte ornamentado. Em seguida, matou os condutores (mahouts) juntamente com os guardas de infantaria que os protegiam. Diante disso, o senhor de Girivraja, o portador da arma semelhante a um bastão, inflamou-se de ira intensíssima—sua cólera ergueu-se do choque ao ver seus emblemas de guerra e seus protetores destruídos em combate.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, striking an opponent’s weapons, banner, and protective retinue is not merely physical damage but an assault on morale and honor—often provoking anger. Ethically, it points to the need for inner restraint: battlefield success can inflame passions, and unchecked wrath becomes a secondary enemy.
Arjuna uses bhalla-arrows to sever the opponent’s strung bow and to cut down the decorated banner, then kills the drivers (mahouts) and the foot-guards. Seeing these losses, the ruler titled ‘lord of Girivraja’ becomes intensely enraged.