Shloka 26
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
रथसेनाके भंग हो जानेपर तीन हजार विशालकाय गजराजोंने समस्त पाण्डवरथियोंको चारों ओरसे घेर लिया ।। ते वृताः समरे पजच गजानीकेन भारत । अशोभनत महाराज ग्रहा व्याप्ता घनैरिव,भरतनन्दन! महाराज! समरांगणमें गजसेनासे घिरे हुए पाँचों पाण्डव मेघोंसे आवृत हुए पाँच ग्रहोंके समान शोभा पाते थे
sa jaya uv01ca |
rathasen01y01 bhagne j01te tr2b sahasr01 vi5b01lak01y01 gajar01j01 samasta-p01 ava-rath2bn caturdi5ba paryav01ray01m01su ||
te vtt01 samare pa ca gaj01n2bkena bh01rata |
a5bobhanata mah01r01ja grah01 vy01pt01 ghanair iva ||
(bharatanandana) mah01r01ja! samar01 -ga ane gajasen01-parivte pa ca p01 av01 ghan01vta-pa ca-grah01 iva 5bobham01n01 babh6bvu ||
Sañjaya said: When the chariot-host had been broken, three thousand massive lordly elephants surrounded all the Pandava chariot-warriors on every side. Thus enclosed in battle by an elephant-corps, O Bharata, O King, the five Pandavas appeared like five planets veiled by dense clouds. The image underscores the grim pressure of war: even the righteous are not spared encirclement, yet their steadfastness shines through the obscuring storm of violence and fate.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under overwhelming pressure: even when the righteous are hemmed in by the machinery of war, their inherent splendor and resolve remain, though temporarily obscuredlike planets hidden by clouds. It also reflects the harsh impartiality of battle, where dharma must be upheld amid chaos.
After the chariot-formation is broken, a large elephant contingentthree thousand huge elephantssurrounds the Pandava chariot-fighters on all sides. Sanjaya describes the five Pandavas, enclosed by the elephant-corps, as resembling five planets covered by dense clouds.