Shloka 48
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
तान् स सप्तशतान् नागान् सारोहायुधकेतनान् | भूमिष्ठो गदया जघ्ने वज्नेणेन्द्र इवाचलान्,जैसे इन्द्र अपने वज्जके द्वारा पर्वतोंपर आघात करते हैं, उसी प्रकार पृथ्वीपर खड़े हुए भीमसेनने सवारों, आयुधों और ध्वजाओंसहित उन सात सौ गजराजोंको गदासे ही मार डाला
tān sa saptśatān nāgān sārohāyudhaketanān | bhūmiṣṭho gadayā jaghne vajreṇendra ivācalān ||
Sañjaya said: “Standing firm upon the ground, Bhīmasena struck down those seven hundred lordly elephants—together with their riders, weapons, and banners—just as Indra, with his thunderbolt, smites the mountains.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of kṣatriya-dharma in epic warfare: when a battle is joined for a dharmic cause, decisive strength and fearlessness are praised. The Indra-simile elevates Bhīma’s action as a divinely comparable force, while also reminding that power in war is measured by its capacity to break seemingly immovable obstacles.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīmasena, though on foot, uses his mace to destroy a massive elephant contingent—seven hundred war-elephants—along with their riders, weapons, and standards, likening the slaughter to Indra striking mountains with the thunderbolt.