Shloka 3
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
मागधो>प्यतिविक्रान्तो द्विरदेन प्रमाथिना । भगदत्तादनवर: शिक्षया च बलेन च,'पार्थ! यह मगधनिवासी दण्डधार भी बड़ा पराक्रमी है। इसके पास शत्रुओंको मथ डालने-वाला गजराज है। इसे युद्धकी उत्तम शिक्षा मिली है तथा यह बलवान भी है, इन सब विशेषताओंके कारण यह पराक्रममें भगदत्तसे तनिक भी कम नहीं है
māgadho 'py ativikrānto dviradena pramāthinā | bhagadattād anavaraḥ śikṣayā ca balena ca ||
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: “Pārtha, ang mandirigmang taga-Magadha na ito ay labis ding magiting. May taglay siyang dambuhalang elepanteng pandigma na kayang durugin ang hanay ng kalaban. Sanay sa pinakamainam na sining ng pakikidigma at pinagkalooban ng malaking lakas, kaya sa kagitingan ay hindi siya nahuhuli kay Bhagadatta.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prowess in war is portrayed as arising from a combination of disciplined training (śikṣā), innate or cultivated strength (bala), and effective resources (such as a powerful war-elephant). The verse highlights merit-based evaluation—judging a warrior by capability rather than reputation alone.
Sanjaya is reporting to Dhritarashtra, identifying and assessing a formidable Magadhan fighter on the battlefield. He emphasizes the warrior’s elephant and martial preparation, concluding that this combatant is not inferior in valor to the renowned Bhagadatta.