Shloka 10
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
नागो नागमभिद्रुत्य रथी च रथिनं रणे । शक्तितोमरनाराचैरनिजपघ्ने तत्र भारत,भारत! वहाँ रणभूमिमें एक हाथीसवार दूसरे हाथीसवारपर और एक रथी दूसरे रथीपर आक्रमण करके शक्ति, तोमर और नाराचोंकी मारसे उसे यमलोक पहुँचा देता था
sa jaya uv01ca |
na1bo n01gam abhidrutya rath2b ca rathina rae |
5baktitomaran01r01cair anijapaghne tatra bh01rata ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Oh Bharata, allí en la batalla un guerrero de elefante embestía a otro guerrero de elefante, y un auriga se lanzaba contra otro auriga; con lanzas, venablos y flechas de hierro abatían a sus enemigos, enviándolos al reino de Yama.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim symmetry of warfare: combatants confront equals (elephant against elephant, chariot against chariot), and lethal weapons quickly translate aggression into death. Ethically, it reflects the Mah01bh01rata 27s recurring warning that even when war is framed as katriya-duty, its immediate fruit is destruction and passage to Yama 27s domain.
Sanjaya describes the battlefield intensity: elephant-riders charge opposing elephant-riders, and chariot-fighters engage rival chariot-fighters. Using spears, javelins, and iron arrows, they strike down enemies, causing many to fall and die amid the ongoing clash.