Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 83
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
गजो गजेन समरे रथिनं च रथी ययौ । अश्वो5श्व॑ं समभिप्रायात् पदातिश्न॒ पदातिनम्
sañjaya uvāca | gajo gajena samare rathinaṃ ca rathī yayau | aśvo 'śvaṃ samabhiprāyāt padātiś ca padātinam ||
Sañjaya said: In the clash of battle, elephant met elephant; a chariot-warrior charged a chariot-warrior; horseman rushed upon horseman; and foot-soldier engaged foot-soldier. Thus the fight fell into matched encounters, each combatant seeking an equal counterpart in the press of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the impersonal momentum and structured nature of war: combatants meet like with like, showing how battle reduces individuals to roles (elephant, chariot, horse, foot) and drives reciprocal violence once conflict is joined.
Sañjaya describes the battle lines colliding on the field: elephants clash with elephants, chariot-fighters with chariot-fighters, cavalry with cavalry, and infantry with infantry—signaling a full-scale engagement across all arms.