Shloka 18
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
स तेन वारणो राजन् मर्मस्वभिहतो भृशम् | पपात सहसा भूमौ वज़रुग्ण इवाचल:,राजन! उस नाराचने हाथीके मर्मस्थानोंमें गहरी चोट पहुँचायी। वह वज्ञके मारे हुए पर्वतकी भाँति सहसा पृथ्वीपर ढह पड़ा
sa tena vāraṇo rājan marmasv abhihato bhṛśam | papāta sahasā bhūmau vajra-rugṇa ivācalaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: O King, struck violently in his vital spots by that weapon, the elephant suddenly collapsed to the ground—like a mountain shattered by Indra’s thunderbolt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the devastating effectiveness of striking vital points (marma) and, ethically, reminds the listener that martial skill carries grave consequences: power and strength can be undone instantly, so violence is never trivial even when performed within the frame of warfare.
An elephant, hit hard in its vital spots by a weapon, collapses suddenly to the earth; the fall is compared to a mountain shattered by Indra’s thunderbolt, emphasizing the suddenness and magnitude of the impact.