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Shloka 12

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

प्रणेदुर्भिन्नमर्माणो निपेतुश्च गतासव: । प्राद्रवन्त दिश: केचिन्नदन्तो भैरवान्‌ रवान्‌

sañjaya uvāca | praṇedur bhinnamarmāṇo nipetuś ca gatāsavaḥ | prādravanta diśaḥ kecin nadanto bhairavān ravān |

قال سنجيا: بعضُهم، وقد تكسّرت مفاصله ومواضع ضعفه، أطلق نفيرًا عاليًا ثم خرّ على الأرض جثةً هامدة. وآخرون فرّوا إلى كل الجهات وهم يطلقون أصواتًا مفزعة. ويُبرز المشهد اندفاع المعركة الوحشي—حيث إن أفيال الحرب، التي كانت رمزًا لسلطان الملوك ولانضباط التدريب، تُختزل تحت وقع السلاح إلى فزعٍ وانهيارٍ وموت.

प्रणेदुःthey roared/cried out
प्रणेदुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-नद्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
भिन्न-मर्माणःwith vital parts (marmas) pierced/broken
भिन्न-मर्माणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभिन्नमर्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
निपेतुःthey fell down
निपेतुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनि-पत्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
गत-असवःlifeless (whose breath/life has gone)
गत-असवः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगतासु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्राद्रवन्तthey ran forth
प्राद्रवन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-द्रु
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
दिशःthe directions
दिशः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
केचित्some (of them)
केचित्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootकश्चित्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नदन्तःroaring
नदन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनदत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, Shatr (present active participle)
भैरवान्terrible
भैरवान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootभैरव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
रवान्cries/sounds
रवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
W
war-elephants (gaja)
M
marman (vital points)
D
directions/quarters (diś)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: strength, training, and royal might (symbolized by elephants) cannot prevent suffering and death when violence escalates. It implicitly cautions against the delusion of control and the ethical cost of warfare.

Sañjaya describes battlefield chaos: some elephants, mortally wounded with their vital points shattered, trumpet and collapse dead; others panic and flee in all directions, emitting terrifying cries.