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Shloka 28

Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda

Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps

मदान्धा रोषसंरब्धा विषाणाग्रैर्महाहवे । बिभिदुर्दन्तमुसलै: समासाद्य परस्परम्‌,उस महायुद्धमें रोषपूर्ण मदान्ध हाथी अपने दाँतोंके अग्रभागसे अथवा दाँतरूपी मूसलोंसे परस्पर भिड़कर एक-दूसरेको विदीर्ण करने लगे

sañjaya uvāca |

madāndhā roṣasaṃrabdhā viṣāṇāgrair mahāhave |

bibhidur dantamusalaiḥ samāsādya parasparam ||

ఆ మహాయుద్ధములో మదముతో అంధులై, కోపముతో ఉగ్రులైన ఏనుగులు పరస్పరం ఎదురెదురుగా చేరి, దంతాగ్రములతో—దంతములే ముసలులైనట్లు—ఒకరినొకరు చీల్చివేయసాగిరి.

मदान्धाःmaddened (blind) with intoxication
मदान्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमदान्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रोषसंरब्धाःenraged, impetuous with anger
रोषसंरब्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरोषसंरब्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विषाणाग्रैःwith the tips of (their) tusks
विषाणाग्रैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविषाणाग्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
महाहवेin the great battle
महाहवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहाहव
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
बिभिदुःthey split, they tore
बिभिदुः:
TypeVerb
Rootभिद्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural
दन्तमुसलैःwith tusk-clubs (tusks like maces)
दन्तमुसलैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदन्तमुसल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
समासाद्यhaving approached, coming together
समासाद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-सद्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
परस्परम्each other, mutually
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
E
elephants
T
tusks (viṣāṇa/danta)
G
great battle (mahāhava)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the moral danger of mada (intoxication/frenzy) and roṣa (anger): when these dominate, even great power becomes self-destructive, producing mutual harm rather than purposeful action.

Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where enraged, musth-driven elephants charge and clash at close quarters, ripping and splitting each other with their tusks, which are compared to heavy clubs.