Shloka 171
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
निकत्तैहस्तिहस्तैश्न विचलद्धिरितस्तत: । रराज वसुधा कीर्णा विसर्पद्धिरिवोरगै:,हाथियोंके शुण्ड कटकर इधर-उधर छटपटा रहे थे। उनसे ढकी हुई पृथ्वी रेंगते हुए सर्पोंसे आच्छादित हुई-सी शोभा पा रही थी
nikṛttaiḥ hastihastaiś ca vicaladbhir itas tataḥ | rarāja vasudhā kīrṇā visarpadbhir ivoragaiḥ ||
قال سنجيا: كانت خراطيمُ الفيلة المقطوعة ترتعش وتلتوي هنا وهناك، فبدت الأرض—وقد تناثرت عليها من كل جانب—متألّقةً على نحوٍ غريب، كأنها مكسوّةٌ بأفاعٍ تزحف منزلقـةً فوق التراب.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse offers a stark ethical reflection through imagery: war can make even horror appear ‘splendid’ as mere spectacle, reminding the listener to discern the moral reality beneath outward grandeur and to recognize the suffering and loss that violence produces.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield after intense fighting: severed elephant trunks lie scattered and still writhe, making the ground look as though it is covered with crawling snakes.