Shloka 17
Bhīṣma Parva, Adhyāya 4 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Vyāsa Saṃvāda on Kāla and Jayalakṣaṇa
Signs of Victory
अरण्यवासिन: सप्त सप्तैषां ग्रामवासिन: । सिंहा व्याप्रा वराहाश्न महिषा वारणास्तथा
araṇyavāsinaḥ sapta saptaivaiṣāṁ grāmavāsinaḥ | siṁhā vyāghrā varāhāś ca mahiṣā vāraṇās tathā ||
三阇耶说道：“有七者居于林野，又有七者居于村落——其气概如狮、如虎、如野猪、如水牛、如大象。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses animal metaphors to convey how epic narrative evaluates warriors: courage, ferocity, and sheer force are praised as battlefield virtues, while the imagery also reminds the listener that war draws out primal, untamed energies that must be governed by dharma.
Sañjaya is reporting and classifying groups of fighters—seven associated with forest life and seven with village life—describing their combat nature through vivid animal comparisons to communicate their strength and temperament.