Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
ततः स विपुलं चर्म शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत् । खडूगं च विपुलं दिव्यं प्रगृह्ा सुभुजो बली
tataḥ sa vipulaṃ carma śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat | khaḍgaṃ ca vipulaṃ divyaṃ pragṛhya subhujo balī |
三阇耶说:于是那位强臂勇士执起一面宽大的盾牌,光辉灿然,其上饰有百枚如月之凸钉;又握一柄巨大而神圣的宝剑。怀着诛杀德罗那之志,他疾冲而上——如林中嗜肉之狮,猛扑向发情狂暴的巨象。
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights unwavering resolve and martial preparedness in war, showing how intent (here, the determination to kill Droṇa) drives action. Ethically, it reflects the harsh framework of battlefield duty (kṣatriya-dharma), where decisive aggression is portrayed through a naturalistic simile (lion vs. elephant) to convey inevitability and ferocity.
Sañjaya describes a warrior taking up a large, radiant shield and a divine sword and charging swiftly at Droṇa with the aim of killing him, compared to a lion attacking a musth elephant in the forest.