Shloka 5
विज्ञायैतन्निशायुद्ध जिघांसुर्भीममाहवे । स मत्त इव मातड्: संक़्रुद्ध इव चोरग:
vijñāyaitanniśāyuddhaṃ jighāṃsurbhīmamāhave | sa matta iva mātaṅgaḥ saṃkruddha iva coragaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—एतन्निशायुद्धमिति विज्ञाय, भीमं हन्तुमिच्छन् स आहवे प्रविवेश। स मत्त इव मातङ्गः, संक्रुद्ध इव चोरगः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the conditions of war—especially a night-battle—can intensify tamasic rage and single-minded violence. It implicitly contrasts disciplined kṣatriya conduct with the moral peril of fighting in darkness, where anger and the urge to kill can eclipse restraint and dharma.
Sañjaya describes a warrior who, recognizing that the fighting has shifted into a night engagement, rushes into combat with the specific aim of killing Bhīma. His ferocity is compared to a musth-elephant and an enraged serpent, emphasizing uncontrolled aggression on the battlefield.