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Shloka 15

Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha

Verbal Duel and Omens

मत्तस्येव गजेन्द्रस्य गतिमास्थाय सो5व्रजत्‌ । वातिक और चारण भी उसे देखकर हर्षसे खिल उठे। पाण्डवोंसे घिरा हुआ आपका पुत्र कुरुराज दुर्योधन मतवाले गजराजकी-सी गतिका आश्रय लेकर चल रहा था ।। १४३ || ततः शड्खनिनादेन भेरीणां च महास्वनै:

saf1jaya uv01ca |

mattsyasyeva gajendrasya gatim 01sth01ya so 'vrajat |

p010davai25 pariv01rito r01jan tava putro duryodhana25 |

matta-gaja-r01ja-gati43 01sth01ya cac01la ||

tata25 5ba45kha-nin01dena bher2b470143 ca mah01svanai25 ||

三阇耶说道:大王啊,纵被般度诸子团团围住,你的儿子难敌犹陀那仍以发情狂怒的象王之步伐昂然前进——步步骄悍有力,即在敌阵夹逼之中也显出不屈的挑衅。随即,海螺号角齐鸣,战鼓轰然大作,整个战场回响震荡。

मत्तस्यof an intoxicated (one)
मत्तस्य:
Sambandha
TypeAdjective
Rootमत्त
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
गजेन्द्रस्यof the lord of elephants
गजेन्द्रस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootगजेन्द्र
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
गतिम्gait/movement
गतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
आस्थायhaving assumed/taken up
आस्थाय:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अव्रजत्went/proceeded
अव्रजत्:
TypeVerb
Rootव्रज्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada
ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
शङ्खनिनादेनby/with the blare of conches
शङ्खनिनादेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशङ्खनिनाद
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
भेरीणाम्of kettle-drums
भेरीणाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootभेरी
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महास्वनैःwith great sounds/roars
महास्वनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमहास्वन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Saf1jaya
D
Dh9tar01636dra (implied by address r01jan)
D
Duryodhana
P
P010davas

5aa45kha (conch)
B
Bher2b (war-drum)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how pride and martial bravado can persist even in peril: Duryodhana projects the intimidating confidence of a rutting elephant though he is surrounded. Ethically, it suggests the tragic power of ahamk01ra (self-assertive pride) in warit can look like courage, yet it may also blind one to counsel and consequences.

Sanjaya describes Duryodhana moving forward on the battlefield while encircled by the P010davas. His movement is compared to that of a maddened elephant, and immediately afterward the scene swells with the loud blasts of conches and the booming of war-drums, intensifying the battle atmosphere.