Shloka 51
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
केचिदग्रासिना छिन्ना: पाण्डवेन महात्मना । विनेदुर्भिन्नमर्माणो निपेतुश्चव गतासव:
sañjaya uvāca | kecid agrāsiṇā chinnāḥ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā | vinedur bhinnamarmāṇo nipetuś ca gatāsavaḥ ||
Sañjaya dijo: Algunos fueron segados por el poderoso hijo de Pāṇḍu con su espada; sus puntos vitales quedaron destrozados y, clamando de dolor, cayeron a la tierra sin vida. El verso subraya la inmediatez sombría de la batalla: en el campo, la destreza y el deber se manifiestan como consecuencias rápidas e irreversibles para los seres encarnados.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of righteous warfare as conceived in the epic: when battle is joined under kṣatriya-dharma, decisive action brings immediate karmic and physical consequences—life is fragile, and violence, even when duty-bound, is grave and irreversible.
Sañjaya describes the Pāṇḍava warrior (contextually Bhīmasena) striking down opponents with his sword; their vital points are shattered, they cry out, and then collapse lifeless on the battlefield.