Shloka 9
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
द्विरदान् द्विरदारोहान् विपताकायुधध्वजान् | सपादरक्षानहनद् वज्ेणाद्रीनिवाद्रिहा,जैसे पर्वतोंका हनन करनेवाले इन्द्रने वज्रद्वारा पर्वतोंपर आघात किया था, उसी प्रकार पाण्ड्यनरेशने पादरक्षकोंसहित हाथियों और हाथीसवारोंको ध्वजा, पताका तथा आयुधोंसे वंचित करके मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca | dviradān dviradārohān vipatākāyudhadhvajān | sapādarākṣān ahanad vajreṇādrīn ivādrihā ||
Sañjaya said: Like Indra, the smiter of mountains, striking the mountains with his thunderbolt, so did the king of the Pāṇḍyas strike down the elephants and their riders—together with their foot-guards—after stripping them of their weapons, banners, and pennants. The verse underscores the ruthless efficiency of battlefield violence, where martial insignia and arms—symbols of status and protection—are rendered useless before overwhelming force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, external marks of power—arms, banners, and prestige—can be swiftly nullified by superior force; it implicitly warns that worldly supports are fragile when confronted by overwhelming might and the brutal momentum of battle.
Sañjaya describes the Pāṇḍya king’s fierce assault: he cuts down elephants and their riders, along with their accompanying infantry guards, likening his destructive impact to Indra striking mountains with the vajra.