Shloka 35
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
व्याक्षिपन् सहसा तत्र घोररूपे भयानके । नाराचै्निहताश्लापि गजा:ः पेतुर्महाबला:
vyākṣipan sahasā tatra ghorarūpe bhayānake | nārācair nihataślāpi gajāḥ petur mahābalāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “In that dreadful, terrifying scene, confusion erupted at once; even the mighty elephants, struck by sharp iron arrows, collapsed to the ground.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of worldly strength in the face of unchecked violence: even the mightiest forces (war-elephants) can be brought down instantly, reminding the listener that power without restraint leads to terror and collapse.
Sañjaya describes a sudden surge of battlefield chaos in a horrific, fearsome moment, where iron arrows (nārācas) strike down and cause even powerful elephants to fall.