Shloka 26

साथ्वारोहान्‌ हयान्‌ कांचिदुन्मथ्य वरवारणा: । सहसा चिक्षिपुस्तत्र संकुले भैरवे सति,बहुत-से बड़े-बड़े हाथी कितने ही घुड़सवारों-सहित घोड़ोंको पैरोंसे कुचलकर सहसा भयंकर युद्धमें फेंक देते थे

sāśvārūḍhān hayān kāṁcid unmathya varavārāṇāḥ | sahasā cikṣipus tatra saṅkule bhairave sati ||

Sañjaya said: In that crowded and dreadful clash, the mighty elephants, after violently wrenching up some horses along with their mounted riders, suddenly hurled them down amid the terror of battle. The scene underscores the brutal momentum of war, where strength and panic overturn order and life alike.

they (those)
:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
अश्वारोहान्horse-riders
अश्वारोहान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्वारोह (अश्व + आरोह)
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
हयान्horses
हयान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहय
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
कांश्चित्some
कांश्चित्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
उन्मथ्यhaving crushed/trampled
उन्मथ्य:
TypeVerb
Rootउन्मथ्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)
वरवारणाःexcellent elephants
वरवारणाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवरवारण (वर + वारण)
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
सहसाsuddenly, violently
सहसा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अक्षिपुःthey hurled/threw
अक्षिपुः:
TypeVerb
Rootक्षिप्
Formaorist (luṅ), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
संकुलेin the crowded/confused (state/place)
संकुले:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसंकुल
Formneuter, locative, singular
भैरवेin the terrible (battle)
भैरवे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootभैरव
Formneuter, locative, singular
सतिwhen (it) was / being
सति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
Formशतृ (present active participle), neuter, locative, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
E
elephants (varavārāṇāḥ)
H
horses (hayāḥ)
M
mounted riders

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the dehumanizing force of war: once battle becomes crowded and fearsome, sheer power and momentum dominate, and living beings are treated like objects to be crushed or hurled. It implicitly invites reflection on the cost of conflict even within a dharma-framed war.

Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where powerful elephants, amid a chaotic melee, wrench up horses together with their riders and fling them down, intensifying the terror and confusion of the fight.