Shloka 52
क्रौज्चवद् विनदन्तो<5न्ये नाराचाभिहता गजा: । परान् स्वांश्वापि मृद्नन्तः परिपेतुर्दिशो दश
krauñcavad vinadanto 'nye nārācābhihatā gajāḥ | parān svānś cāpi mṛdnantaḥ paripetur diśo daśa ||
Sañjaya said: Other elephants, struck by iron nārāca arrows, cried out like krauñca birds. In their frenzy they trampled both foes and their own, then scattered and fled in all ten directions.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and practical truth that war unleashes uncontrolled fear and pain: once wounded and panicked, even powerful beings like elephants lose discrimination and end up harming both sides, illustrating the indiscriminate fallout of violence.
During the battle, some elephants are hit by nārāca arrows. They cry out loudly like krauñca birds and, in their panic, trample enemies and allies alike before scattering in all directions.