Shloka 22
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
गजा रथाश्वाः पुरुषाश्व संघश: परस्परघ्ना: परिपेतुराहवे । परस्परं प्रस्खलिता: समाहिता भृशं निपेतुर्बहुभाषिणों हता:
gajā rathāśvāḥ puruṣāś ca saṅghaśaḥ parasparaghnāḥ paripetur āhave | parasparaṃ praskhalitāḥ samāhitā bhṛśaṃ nipetur bahubhāṣiṇo hatāḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: In der Schlacht wogten Elefanten, Wagen, Pferde und Scharen von Fußsoldaten durcheinander, schlugen einander und erwiderten Schlag um Schlag. Von gegenseitigen Hieben schwer verwundet, taumelten und stolperten sie; und inmitten lauter, vielstimmiger Rufe stürzten die Erschlagenen in Haufen zu Boden.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the self-propagating nature of violence in war: when combatants are locked in mutual aggression (paraspara), order and restraint collapse, leading to indiscriminate suffering and death. Ethically, it functions as a stark reminder of war’s cost and the ease with which human speech and emotion turn into clamour amid destruction.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield at a peak of confusion: elephants, chariots, horses, and infantry surge in masses, striking one another. Many are grievously wounded, stumble, shout, and then fall dead—portraying a chaotic melee rather than orderly duels.