Shloka 45
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
धृष्टद्युम्नहतानन्यानपश्याम महागजान् | पततः पात्यमानांश्व पार्षतेन महात्मना
sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumnahatān anyān apaśyāma mahāgajān | patataḥ pātyamānāṁś ca pārṣatena mahātmanā ||
قال سنجيا: لقد رأينا كثيرًا من الفيلة العظام صريعةً، قد قتلها دْهريشتاديومنَ. وبضربات ذلك الابن عظيم النفس لبارشاتا (دروبادا)، كانت فيلة كثيرة تسقط، وكثيرٌ غيرها يُطرَح أرضًا فيما كانت المعركة تزداد احتدامًا.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic’s sober realism: even the mightiest instruments of war—great elephants—fall when confronted by determined leadership. It implicitly points to the grave cost of conflict and the relentless working-out of kṣatriya warfare, where prowess and duty operate amid widespread destruction.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he is witnessing on the battlefield: Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Drupada’s son, is cutting down numerous war-elephants; some are already dead, while others are collapsing or being forced to the ground under his assault.