Shloka 61
Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)
अपरे त्रासिता नागा नाराचशरतोमरै: । तमेवाभिमुखं जग्मु: शलभा इव पावकम्
apare trāsitā nāgā nārāca-śara-tomaraiḥ | tam evābhimukhaṃ jagmuḥ śalabhā iva pāvakam ||
三阇耶说道：另一些王者之象，虽被迦尔那的铁尖箭矢、长箭与投枪所惊骇，却仍直冲向他——如飞蛾扑入熊熊烈火。此景昭示战场的阴沉逼迫：恐惧并不总使人退却；在战争的狂热中，甚至自毁般的勇气也会逆着压倒性的力量汹涌前进。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tragic paradox of war: terror and suffering can coexist with a compulsive drive to charge forward. It cautions that in violent conflict, valor may become self-destructive when directed by frenzy, obligation, or momentum rather than discernment.
Sañjaya describes how many elephants, though wounded and frightened by Karṇa’s missiles—iron-pointed arrows, arrows, and spears—still rush directly toward Karṇa, compared to moths flying into fire.