Shloka 26

Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host

Devanagari script

गजानीकं महाराज वध्यमानं महात्मभि: । व्यदीर्यत दिश: सर्वा वातनुन्ना घना इव

Transliteration

gajānīkaṃ mahārāja vadhyamānaṃ mahātmabhiḥ | vyadīryata diśaḥ sarvā vātanunnā ghanā iva ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, the elephant-corps, struck down by great-souled warriors, was torn apart in every direction—like clouds driven and shattered by the force of the wind.

Word by Word

• गजानीकम्: elephant-army, elephant corps
• गजानीकम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वध्यमानम्: being slain/struck down
• वध्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महात्मभिः: by great-souled (heroes)
• महात्मभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• व्यदीर्यत: was torn asunder, split apart
• व्यदीर्यत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + दृ
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• वातनुन्नाः: driven by the wind
• वातनुन्नाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात + नुन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• घनाः: clouds
• घनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इव: like, as if
• इव: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mahārāja (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• gajānīka (elephant-corps)
• wind
• clouds
• directions (quarters)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of even formidable worldly power (an elephant-corps) under the momentum of violence and fate in war, suggesting that pride in strength and formations is unstable when confronted by determined force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the elephant division is being heavily attacked by mighty warriors and is breaking apart in all directions, compared to clouds scattered and torn by strong winds.