Shloka 296

Devanagari script

अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्‌ | महाधनुर्धर भगदत्तने राक्षसप्रवर घटोत्कचपर बड़े वेगसे आक्रमण किया, मानो एक मतवाला हाथी दूसरे मतवाले हाथीपर टूट पड़ा हो

Transliteration

abhidudrāva vegena matto mattam iva dvipam | mahādhanurdharaṃ bhagadattaṃ rākṣasapravaro ghaṭotkacaḥ ||

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—రాక్షసశ్రేష్ఠుడు ఘటోత్కచుడు మహాధనుర్ధరుడైన భగదత్తునిపై మహావేగంతో దూసుకెళ్లాడు; మత్తు ఏనుగు మరొక మత్తు ఏనుగుపై పడి చీల్చినట్లుగా।

Word by Word

• अभिदुद्राव: rushed/charged towards
• अभिदुद्राव: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धावने)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), perfect (narrative past), 3, singular

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• मत्तः: intoxicated/maddened
• मत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• मत्तम्: intoxicated/maddened
• मत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• इव: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• द्विपम्: elephant
• द्विपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विप
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Bhagadatta
• elephant (dvipam)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how unchecked fury and martial momentum can make warriors resemble forces of nature—powerful yet perilous. It invites reflection on the ethical tension of war: valor and skill are admired, but the very intensity that wins battles can also deepen violence and suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Ghaṭotkaca, the formidable Rākṣasa fighter, charging swiftly at Bhagadatta, famed as a great archer. The comparison to two maddened elephants conveys the imminent clash of two exceptionally powerful combatants.