Shloka 59
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
अल्पं च बलमेतेषां कृष्ण च भृशविक्षतौ
alpaṃ ca balam eteṣāṃ kṛṣṇau ca bhṛśa-vikṣatau | yadi sarve yatra tiṣṭhāmo dhruvaṃ no vijayo bhavet ||
قال سنجيا: «لم يبقَ لهم إلا قليل من القوة، وكريشنا وأرجونا أيضًا قد أُثخِنا بالجراح. فإن ثبتنا جميعًا هنا وتمسّكنا بمواقعنا بعزم، فالنصر لنا لا محالة.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the wartime ethic of steadfastness: when the opponent appears weakened, collective discipline and holding one’s position are presented as decisive. It also shows how perceptions of enemy vulnerability are used to strengthen morale and justify continued effort.
Sañjaya reports an assessment of the battlefield situation: the opposing side’s remaining force is described as small, and Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna as badly wounded. On that basis, he conveys the idea that if their side stands firm together at that point, victory will be assured.