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Shloka 60

Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda

Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps

नागं जिघांसु: सहसा चिक्षेप च महाबल: । उस महाबली निशाचरने हाथीको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे एक निर्मल त्रिशूल हाथमें लिया, जो पर्वतोंको भी विदीर्ण करनेवाला था। फिर सहसा उसे चला दिया ।।

sañjaya uvāca |

nāgaṃ jighāṃsuḥ sahasā cikṣepa ca mahābalaḥ |

sa visphuliṅgamālābhiḥ samantāt pariveṣṭitaḥ |

taṃ sahasā svopari āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā prāgjyotiṣapurasya nareśo bhagadatto 'tyanta-bhayaṅkaraṃ tīkṣṇaṃ sundaraṃ cārdhacandrākāraṃ bāṇam acikṣipat |

三阇耶说道:那位力大无穷的夜行者,欲杀战象,骤然掷出一柄洁净无瑕的三叉戟——其威能甚至可裂群山。三叉戟四面缠绕着火花的花环,呼啸疾进。见其直扑自身,普罗阇约提沙之王婆伽达多射出一支半月形之箭,华美而可怖,锋利如剃刀。

नागम्elephant
नागम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जिघांसुःwishing to kill
जिघांसुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सहसाsuddenly
सहसा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
चिक्षेपthrew
चिक्षेप:
TypeVerb
Rootक्षिप्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाबलःmighty/very strong (one)
महाबलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विस्फुलिङ्ग-मालाभिःby garlands/streams of sparks
विस्फुलिङ्ग-मालाभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविस्फुलिङ्गमाला
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
समन्तात्on all sides
समन्तात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्तात्
परिवेष्टितःsurrounded/encircled
परिवेष्टितः:
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि-वेṣ्ट्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
B
Bhagadatta
P
Pragjyotishapura (Prāgjyotiṣapura)
E
elephant (nāga)
T
trident (triśūla)
C
crescent-shaped arrow (ardhacandrākāra bāṇa)
N
night-ranger/demon (niśācara; implied by the Hindi gloss)

Educational Q&A

In a dharma-framed war, a ruler’s duty includes swift protection of self and forces; lethal aggression invites immediate, proportionate counteraction, highlighting responsibility and consequence rather than hesitation.

A powerful attacker hurls a spark-wreathed trident to kill the war-elephant; Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha sees it coming at him and counters by shooting a sharp, crescent-shaped arrow.