Shloka 57
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
सम्मथ्यमाना: क्रुद्धेन भीमसेनेन दन्तिन: । सहसा प्राद्रवन् क्लिष्टा मृदूनन्तस्तव वाहिनीम्
sammathyamānāḥ kruddhena bhīmasenena dantinaḥ | sahasā prādravan kliṣṭā mṛdūnantaḥ tava vāhinīm ||
Sañjaya said: The elephants, being violently churned and battered by Bhīmasena in his wrath, were suddenly driven into distress; and, crushing your army as they went, they fled at once from the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata insight: in war, rage and force can unleash uncontrollable chain-reactions. Even powerful assets like war-elephants, once panicked, become indiscriminate agents of destruction, harming allies and worsening adharma-like chaos on the field.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīmasena, fighting in anger, batters the elephants so severely that they become distressed and suddenly flee. In their stampede they trample and crush the Kaurava troops while escaping the battlefield.