Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 131
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
अश्वानन्ये गजानन्ये रथानन्ये महारथा:
aśvān anye gajān anye rathān anye mahārathāḥ
Sañjaya said: “Some struck down horses, others elephants, and others chariots—those great chariot-fighters, intent on disabling the enemy’s strength in every form.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a pragmatic battlefield ethic: warriors target the opponent’s means of mobility and power (horses, elephants, chariots). It reflects how kṣatriya warfare often focuses on neutralizing capability rather than merely pursuing individual duels.
Sañjaya describes the chaos and intensity of combat in the Śalya Parva: different groups of elite fighters are striking down various components of the enemy forces—horses, elephants, and chariots—showing widespread, coordinated destruction on the field.
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