Shloka 38
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
ततो गजा: सप्तशताक्षापपाणिभिरास्थिता: । पज्च चाश्वसहस्राणि सहदेवश्व वीर्यवान्,तदनन्तर धर्मराजकी आज्ञाके अनुसार हाथमें धनुष लिये बैठे हुए सवारोंसे युक्त सात सौ हाथी, पाँच हजार घुड़सवार, पराक्रमी सहदेव, तीन हजार पैदल योद्धा और द्रौपदीके सभी पुत्र--इन सबने रणभूमिमें युद्ध-दुर्मद शकुनिपर धावा किया
tato gajāḥ saptaśatākṣāpapāṇibhir āsthitāḥ | pañca cāśvasahasrāṇi sahadevaś ca vīryavān | tad-anantaraṃ dharmarājasya ājñānusāraṃ haste dhanuḥ dhṛtvā upaviṣṭaiḥ savāraiḥ yuktaḥ saptaśatā gajāḥ, pañca-sahasrāṇi aśvārūḍhāḥ, vīryavān sahadevaḥ, trīṇi sahasrāṇi padātayaḥ, draupadyāḥ sarve putrāś ca—ete sarve raṇabhūmau yuddha-durmadam śakunim abhidadhāvuḥ
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces avanzaron setecientos elefantes, cada uno montado por arqueros con el arco en la mano, y cinco mil jinetes—junto con el valeroso Sahadeva, tres mil infantes y todos los hijos de Draupadī. Cumpliendo la orden de Dharmarāja, cargaron por el campo de batalla contra Śakuni, envanecido por el delirio de la guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action under rightful authority: warriors move in coordinated obedience to Dharmarāja’s command. Ethically, it contrasts ordered, duty-bound warfare with Śakuni’s broader association with adharma—especially deceit—showing how dharmic leadership seeks to restrain chaos even amid violence.
Sañjaya reports a coordinated assault: seven hundred war-elephants with bow-bearing riders, five thousand cavalry, Sahadeva, three thousand infantry, and Draupadī’s sons surge forward on the battlefield to attack Śakuni, described as swollen with war-pride.