Shloka 97
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
ननर्द बहुधा राजन् हृष्टश्नासीत् परंतप: । शड्खं दध्मौ च समरे सिंहनादं ननाद च
sañjaya uvāca | nanarda bahudhā rājan hṛṣṭaś cāsīt paraṃtapaḥ | śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau ca samare siṃhanādaṃ nanāda ca ||
桑阇耶说道：大王啊，那位焚灼敌人的勇士心中欢腾不已。他一再咆哮；在战场上吹响海螺号角，又发出如狮子般的战吼——既为振奋己方士气，也为在正义的兵戈较量中向敌军发出挑战。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: disciplined courage expressed through battlefield signals (conch and lion-roar) that strengthen one’s own side and openly declare resolve. Ethically, it frames martial action as a public commitment to face the conflict without concealment, sustaining morale and clarity of purpose.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, upon seeing the opposing forces, becomes intensely exhilarated. He repeatedly roars, blows his conch in the midst of battle, and utters a lion-like war-cry—standard martial acts that announce readiness and rally troops.