Shloka 62
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
स पीड्यमानस्तैनगिर्वेदनार्त: शराहतः । अनदत् सुमहानादमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनम्,वे सब-के-सब भगदत्तके हाथीको अपने दाँतोंसे पीड़ा देने लगे। वह बाणोंसे बहुत घायल हो चुका था; अतः इन हाथियोंद्वारा पीड़ित होनेपर वेदनासे व्याकुल हो बड़े जोर- जोरसे चीत्कार करने लगा। उसकी आवाज इन्द्रके वज्रकी गड़गड़ाहटके समान जान पड़ती थी
sa pīḍyamānas tainagir vedanārtaḥ śarāhataḥ | anadat sumahānādam indrāśani-samasvanam ||
Sañjaya said: Tormented by those elephants and already grievously wounded by arrows, he cried out in intense pain with a tremendous roar, a sound like the thunder of Indra’s thunderbolt.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of war: physical power and status do not prevent suffering. Ethically, it points to how collective aggression and unchecked violence amplify pain, inviting reflection on restraint and the human cost of conflict.
A warrior (contextually associated with the elephant-force described in the surrounding passage) is being harried by elephants while already pierced by arrows. Overwhelmed by pain, he emits a massive cry likened to the thunderous sound of Indra’s vajra.