Shloka 12
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
ततोअरर्जुनं भिन्नकटेन दन्तिना घनाघनेनानिलतुल्यवर्चसा । अतीव चुक्षो भयिषुर्जनार्दनं धनंजयं चाभिजघान तोमरै:
tato 'rjunaṃ bhinnakaṭena dantinā ghanāghanenānilatulyavarcāsā | atīva cukṣo bhayiṣur janārdanaṃ dhanaṃjayaṃ cābhijaghāna tomaraiḥ ||
سنجے نے کہا—پھر اس نے کنپٹیوں سے مد بہانے والے، بارانی بادل کی طرح سیاہ، ہوا کی مانند تیز رفتار اور درخشاں، مدہوش گجراج کو آگے بڑھایا—اس ارادے سے کہ جناردن (کرشن) اور دھننجے (ارجن) کو سخت گھبراہٹ میں ڈال دے؛ اور نیزوں (تومروں) سے ان دونوں پر وار کیا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical reality of warfare: opponents may intentionally generate terror and confusion as a tactic. It implicitly contrasts such fear-inducing aggression with the steadiness expected of exemplary warriors—especially Arjuna and Krishna—who must remain composed amid intimidation.
In the Karna Parva battle narrative, an enemy advances a powerful rutting elephant toward Arjuna and Krishna, aiming to panic them, and simultaneously attacks them with tomara-javelins.