Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 24
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
अश्रूणि मुमुचुर्नागा वेपथुं चास्पृशन् भृशम् । चारों ओर नीचे बालू और कंकड़ बरसानेवाली हवाएँ चलने लगीं। हाथी आँसू बहाने और थर-थर काँपने लगे || २३ ह || एतान् घोराननादृत्य समुत्पातान् सुदारुणान्
sañjaya uvāca | aśrūṇi mumucur nāgā vepathuṃ cāspṛśan bhṛśam | etān ghorān anādṛtya samutpātān sudāruṇān |
Sañjaya sprach: Die Elefanten vergossen Tränen und wurden von heftigem Zittern ergriffen. Doch ungeachtet dieser schrecklichen und höchst unheilvollen Vorzeichen rüsteten sich die Kṣatriya-Krieger—ohne inneres Schwanken—abermals zum Kampf, nach dem Himmel verlangend, und standen voll Eifer auf dem schönen und verdienstvollen Feld von Kurukṣetra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of war: even when nature and animals signal catastrophe through ominous portents, warriors driven by kṣatriya ideals and the desire for heavenly reward may suppress fear and proceed. It invites reflection on whether steadfastness is true dharma or a tragic hardening of conscience.
Sañjaya reports ominous signs on the battlefield—elephants crying and trembling—yet the warriors ignore these prodigies and prepare again for combat on Kurukṣetra, energized by the hope of attaining heaven through a heroic death.