Shloka 13
Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)
सम्यक् प्रणीता नागाश्च प्रभिन्नकरटामुखा: । ऋष्टितोमरनाराचैर्निविंद्धा वरवारणा:,गजानां पादरक्षास्तु व्यूढोरस्का: प्रहारिण: । ऋष्टिभि श्र थनुर्भिश्च विमलैश्नव परश्वधै:
saṃyak praṇītā nāgāś ca prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ | ṛṣṭitomaranārācair niviṃddhā varavāraṇāḥ, gajānāṃ pādarakṣās tu vyūḍhoraskāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | ṛṣṭibhiḥ śaradhanurbhiś ca vimalaiś nava-paraśvadhaiḥ |
قال سنجيا: سِيقَتِ الفيلةُ إلى الأمام بمهارة، وكانت صداغُها تفيضُ حين اندفعت في الهجوم. وقد طُعِنَت تلك الفيلةُ البهيّةُ بالرماحِ والمزاريقِ والسهامِ ذاتِ النصالِ الحديدية. أمّا حُرّاسُ الأقدامِ الموكَّلون بحمايةِ الفيلة—عِراضُ الصدورِ مُدرَّبون على الضرب—فقد واصلوا القتالَ بالرماحِ وبالقِسيِّ والسهام، وبفؤوسٍ لامعةٍ حديثةِ الشحذ.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined execution of martial duty—elephants are driven forward and protected by assigned infantry—while also revealing the harsh ethical reality of war: even magnificent creatures and their guards become targets, and skillful organization does not lessen the suffering inherent in violence.
Sanjaya narrates a battlefield moment where charging elephants in musth are advanced into combat, get struck by spears, javelins, and iron-pointed arrows, and their accompanying foot-guards fight fiercely with spears, bows and arrows, and newly sharpened axes.