Shloka 54
शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
वह सेना एक वनके समान थी। वह वन कुन्त, खड्ग और बाणोंसे अत्यन्त भयंकर प्रतीत होता था, शक्तिरूपी काँटोंसे भरा हुआ था, गदा और परिघ उसमें जानेके मार्ग थे, रथ और हाथी उसमें रहनेवाले बड़े-बड़े वृक्ष थे, घोड़े और पैदलरूपी लताओंसे वह व्याप्त हो रहा था, महायशस्वी भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण ऊँची पताकावाले रथके द्वारा उस सैन्यवनमें प्रवेश करके सब ओर विचरने लगे ।। ते हया: पाण्डुरा राजन् वहन्तो<र्जुनमाहवे । दिक्षु सर्वास्वदृश्यन्त दाशाहेण प्रचोदिता:,राजन! श्रीकृष्णके द्वारा हाँके गये वे सफेद घोड़े युद्धस्थलमें अर्जुनको ढोते हुए सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें दिखायी पड़ते थे
te hayāḥ pāṇḍurā rājan vahanto 'rjunam āhave | dikṣu sarvāsv adṛśyanta dāśārheṇa pracoditāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, that host was like a forest—dreadful with spears, swords, and arrows; bristling with śakti-weapons as thorns; with maces and iron clubs for its paths; with chariots and elephants as its great trees; and with horses and footmen spreading through it like creeping vines. The illustrious Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, on a chariot crowned with a lofty banner, entered that forest of war and ranged about on every side. And the pale-white horses, driven on by Dāśārha (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), were seen in every direction on the battlefield as they bore Arjuna into the fight.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the chaos of war, right action (kṣatriya-dharma) is sustained by disciplined guidance and clarity of purpose; Kṛṣṇa’s driving symbolizes steady direction that enables Arjuna to act decisively rather than be overwhelmed by fear or confusion.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s chariot—drawn by white horses and driven by Kṛṣṇa—moves visibly across all quarters of the battlefield, indicating swift maneuvering and active engagement in combat.