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 ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Matapos gawin ang isang kakila-kilabot na gawa at buhatin ang kanyang busog, inangkin niya ang anyong mabagsik at nag-aalab sa poot, at ibinaling ang tingin sa mga hukbo ng Kaliṅga—hudyat na tumitindi ang labanan, at ang galit at panatang mandirigma ang nagsisimulang maghari sa larangan.
संजय उवाच
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.