Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 33
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
गदया भीमसेनेन भिन्नकुम्भान् रजस्वलान् । धावमानानपश्याम कुग्जरान् पर्वतोपमान्
sañjaya uvāca | gadayā bhīmasenena bhinnakumbhān rajasvalān | dhāvamānān apaśyāma kuñjarān parvatopamān |
Dijo Sañjaya: Vimos a los elefantes guerreros, enormes como montañas, con las sienes abiertas por la maza de Bhimasena—cubiertos de polvo y sangrando—huir despavoridos mientras corrían. En cuanto Bhimasena empuñó su maza, todo el ejército Kaurava se estremeció; y ante nuestros ojos, aquellos elefantes de forma montañosa, con las sienes reventadas, se dispersaban en fuga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological reality of war: even immense power (mountain-like elephants) collapses under superior force, and fear spreads quickly. It implicitly warns that reliance on sheer might is unstable, and that violence produces panic and ruin rather than lasting security.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Bhima, wielding his mace, has smashed the temples of war-elephants. Dust-covered and wounded, the elephants break formation and run in different directions, signaling disruption and terror in the Kaurava forces.