Shloka 826
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
बिभेद समरे तूर्ण प्रेक्ष्य भीष्मं महारथम् | इस प्रकार भीमसेनने महारथी भीष्मकी ओर देखते हुए कलिंगोंकी सेनाको बार-बार समरभूमिमें शीघ्रतापूर्वक विदीर्ण किया
bibheda samare tūrṇaṃ prekṣya bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham |
قال سنجيا: ولمّا رأى بهيشما، المقاتلَ العظيمَ على العربة، مزّق بهيماسينا صفوفَ كالينغا سريعًا مرّة بعد مرّة في ساحة القتال.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of decisive action in war: a warrior may keep his attention on a principal adversary (Bhīṣma) while still fulfilling immediate battlefield duty by breaking enemy formations. It also reflects the tragic scale of conflict—personal focus and martial excellence can translate into mass destruction.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, while looking toward Bhīṣma the great chariot-warrior, rapidly and repeatedly shattered the Kalinga troops on the battlefield, indicating Bhīma’s overwhelming force and the intense press of combat around Bhīṣma.