Shloka 87
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्राकम्पन्त च सैन्यानि वाहनानि च सर्वशः । भीमेन समरे राजन् गजेन्द्रेणेव सर्वश:
prākampanta ca sainyāni vāhanāni ca sarvaśaḥ | bhīmena samare rājan gajendreṇeva sarvaśaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O König, in jener Schlacht begannen das ganze Heer und all seine Wagen und Reittiere ringsum zu beben, vom Schrecken vor Bhīma ergriffen—der das Feld wie ein herrlicher Elefantenkönig durchmaß und hierhin und dorthin stürmte. Und sooft er wieder und wieder emporsprang und vorwärtsdrängte, breitete sich Verwirrung über alle aus.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral-psychological dimension of war: sheer force and fearless momentum can collapse an opposing army’s resolve even before physical defeat, showing how fear and confusion spread contagiously in conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma is rampaging across the battlefield like a mighty elephant; his aggressive movements make the enemy troops and their vehicles tremble, and repeated charges throw the field into bewilderment.