Shloka 173
Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam
Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32
पतितान् पोथयाज्चक्रुर्द्धिपा: स्थूलनलानिव । काले रंगके लोहमय कवच धारण करके रणभूमिमें गिरे हुए कितने ही मनुष्यों, रथों, घोड़ों और हाथियोंको बड़े-बड़े गजराजोंने मोटे नरकुलोंके समान रौंद डाला
patitān pothayāṃś cakrur dhīpāḥ sthūla-nalān iva |
Sañjaya said: The mighty elephants trampled those who had fallen on the battlefield—men, chariots, horses, and even other elephants—crushing them as if they were thick reeds. The scene underscores the pitiless momentum of war, where strength and panic override restraint and the fallen become helpless amid the clash of arms.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dehumanizing force of war: once combat reaches its peak, even the fallen—who would ordinarily deserve protection—can be crushed by uncontrolled violence. It invites reflection on dharma in warfare and the moral cost when power operates without restraint.
Sañjaya describes a chaotic battlefield moment in the Droṇa Parva where great elephants surge through the field and trample down those already fallen—warriors along with their mounts and vehicles—likening them to thick reeds being crushed.