Shloka 59
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
तेजोवीर्यबलोपेता महाबलपराक्रमा: । राजन! वे सभी विशालकाय दिग्गज तीन स्थानोंसे बहुत मद बहा रहे थे और तेज, वीर्य एवं बलसे सम्पन्न तथा महाबली और महापराक्रमी थे ।।
tejo-vīrya-balopetā mahā-bala-parākramāḥ | rājan, te sarve viśāla-kāyā dig-gajāḥ triṣu sthāneṣu bahu madaṃ vahantaḥ tejasā vīryeṇa balena ca sampannā mahā-balinaḥ mahā-parākramāś ca āsan || 58 || ghaṭotkacaḥ tu svaṃ nāgaṃ codayāmāsa taṃ tadā ||
Санджая сказал: О царь, все эти исполинские слоны, словно странствующие по сторонам света, обильно источали течку из трёх мест. Наделённые сиянием, воинской мощью и силой, они были могучи и исполнены великого дерзновения. И тогда Гхатоткача в тот миг погнал вперёд своего слона.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sheer power—radiance, vigor, and strength—manifests in war, but it also implicitly warns that such might is morally neutral: it becomes meaningful only when directed by dharma and right intention.
Sañjaya describes the formidable war-elephants, swollen with rut and brimming with strength and valor; immediately after, he notes that Ghaṭotkaca spurs his own elephant forward, signaling an escalation in the battle action.