Shloka 38
ततो गजा: सप्तशताक्षापपाणिभिरास्थिता: । पज्च चाश्वसहस्राणि सहदेवश्व वीर्यवान्,तदनन्तर धर्मराजकी आज्ञाके अनुसार हाथमें धनुष लिये बैठे हुए सवारोंसे युक्त सात सौ हाथी, पाँच हजार घुड़सवार, पराक्रमी सहदेव, तीन हजार पैदल योद्धा और द्रौपदीके सभी पुत्र--इन सबने रणभूमिमें युद्ध-दुर्मद शकुनिपर धावा किया
tato gajāḥ saptaśatākṣāpapāṇibhir āsthitāḥ | pañca cāśvasahasrāṇi sahadevaś ca vīryavān | tad-anantaraṃ dharmarājasya ājñānusāraṃ haste dhanuḥ dhṛtvā upaviṣṭaiḥ savāraiḥ yuktaḥ saptaśatā gajāḥ, pañca-sahasrāṇi aśvārūḍhāḥ, vīryavān sahadevaḥ, trīṇi sahasrāṇi padātayaḥ, draupadyāḥ sarve putrāś ca—ete sarve raṇabhūmau yuddha-durmadam śakunim abhidadhāvuḥ
Sañjaya said: Then seven hundred elephants, each mounted by archers with bows in hand, and five thousand horsemen advanced—along with the valiant Sahadeva, three thousand foot-soldiers, and all the sons of Draupadī. Acting in accordance with Dharmarāja’s command, they charged across the battlefield against Śakuni, who had grown arrogant with the frenzy of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action under rightful authority: warriors move in coordinated obedience to Dharmarāja’s command. Ethically, it contrasts ordered, duty-bound warfare with Śakuni’s broader association with adharma—especially deceit—showing how dharmic leadership seeks to restrain chaos even amid violence.
Sañjaya reports a coordinated assault: seven hundred war-elephants with bow-bearing riders, five thousand cavalry, Sahadeva, three thousand infantry, and Draupadī’s sons surge forward on the battlefield to attack Śakuni, described as swollen with war-pride.