Shloka 30
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
ततः स विपुलं चर्म शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत् । खडूगं च विपुलं दिव्यं प्रगृह्ा सुभुजो बली,तब सुन्दर बाँहोंवाले बलवान वीर धृष्टद्युम्नने चन्द्राकार सौ फुल्लियोंसे सुशोभित तेजस्वी और विस्तृत ढाल तथा दिव्य एवं विशाल खड्ग हाथमें लेकर द्रोणका वध करनेकी इच्छासे उनके ऊपर वेगपूर्वक आक्रमण किया। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे मांस चाहनेवाला सिंह वनमें किसी मतवाले हाथीपर धावा करता है
tataḥ sa vipulaṃ carma śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat | khaḍgaṃ ca vipulaṃ divyaṃ pragṛhya subhujo balī |
ततः स विपुलं चर्म शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत् । खड्गं च विपुलं दिव्यं प्रगृह्य सुभुजो बली ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights unwavering resolve and martial preparedness in war, showing how intent (here, the determination to kill Droṇa) drives action. Ethically, it reflects the harsh framework of battlefield duty (kṣatriya-dharma), where decisive aggression is portrayed through a naturalistic simile (lion vs. elephant) to convey inevitability and ferocity.
Sañjaya describes a warrior taking up a large, radiant shield and a divine sword and charging swiftly at Droṇa with the aim of killing him, compared to a lion attacking a musth elephant in the forest.