Shloka 24
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
गात्रा भ्यन्तरगो भूत्वा करेणाताडयन्मुहु: । लालयामास तं नागं वधाकाड्क्षिणमव्ययम्,वे उसके शरीरके नीचे होकर हाथसे बारंबार थपथपाते हुए वधकी आकांक्षा रखनेवाले उस अविनाशी गजराजको लाड़-प्यार करने लगे
gātrābhyantarago bhūtvā kareṇātāḍayan muhuḥ | lālayāmāsa taṃ nāgaṃ vadhākāṅkṣiṇam avyayam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—स गजस्य गात्राभ्यन्तरगो भूत्वा करेण मुहुरताडयन्, वधाकाङ्क्षिणमपि तं श्रीमन्तं नागराजमव्ययं लालयामास।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a battlefield setting, mastery is not only force but composure and intelligent restraint—meeting lethal intent with presence of mind, control, and sometimes a disarming gentleness that redirects violence.
Sañjaya describes a warrior moving under an elephant’s body and repeatedly patting it, calming and handling the powerful animal even though it is eager to kill, portraying a moment of tactical daring and control amid combat.