Shloka 27
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
संसक्तनागौ तौ वीरौ तोमरैरितरेतरम् । बलवत् सूर्यरश्म्याभैर्भित्त्वान्योन्यं विनेदतु:
saṁsaktanāgau tau vīrau tomarair itaretaram | balavat sūryaraśmyābhair bhittvānyonyaṁ vinedatuḥ ||
Wika ni Sanjaya: Nang magkalapat at magkakandado ang kanilang mga elepante, ang dalawang bayani ay nagpalitan ng sibat na kumikislap na parang sinag ng araw. Sa lakas ay pinupunit nila ang isa’t isa at umuungal nang malakas, O Hari. At si Satyaki, na nasugatan sa labanan ng dakilang mandirigmang Kekaya, ay gumanti—na wari’y tumatawa—sa pamamagitan ng dalawampu’t limang palaso, at nasugatan din ang mandirigmang Kekaya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle—courage and resolve even under severe danger—while also implicitly revealing the tragic symmetry of war: both sides inflict and suffer harm, and martial glory is inseparable from destruction.
Two elephant-mounted fighters (or fighters with elephants) have their elephants locked together. They hurl or thrust shining javelins at each other, pierce one another with force, and roar loudly as the duel intensifies.