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 ||
三阇耶说道：随后，他驱使一头发情的战象冲出；其两鬓淌着醉液，黑如雨云而又光焰逼人，迅疾如风。他意在使阇那尔达那（奎师那）与檀那阇耶（阿周那）陷入极度惊惧，遂以投枪（托摩罗）向二人猛击。此景昭示战事的残酷升级：恐惧也被刻意锻成兵刃，甚至用来对付最卓绝的勇士。
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.