Shloka 102
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
स कृत्वा दारुणं कर्म प्रगृहीतशरासन: । आस्थितो रौद्रमात्मानं कलिड्रानन्ववैक्षत,उन्होंने धनुष हाथमें लेकर भयंकर पराक्रम प्रकट करनेके पश्चात् अपने रौद्ररूपका आश्रय ले कलिंगसेनाकी ओर दृष्टिपात किया
sa kṛtvā dāruṇaṃ karma pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ | āsthito raudram ātmānaṃ kaliṅgrān anvavaikṣata ||
स कृत्वा दारुणं कर्म प्रगृहीतशरासनः । आस्थितो रौद्रमात्मानं कलिङ्गानन्ववैक्षत ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, a warrior’s inner state can shift into raudra (wrathful ferocity). It implicitly raises an ethical tension central to the Mahābhārata: even when action is framed as kṣatriya-duty, anger and cruelty can overtake discernment, turning necessary combat into ‘dāruṇa karma’—a dreadful deed.
Sañjaya describes a warrior who, after committing a severe martial act, grips his bow and deliberately adopts a fierce stance. He then looks toward the Kaliṅga troops, indicating he is about to engage them or intensify the assault against that contingent.