Shloka 16
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १५१: कृष्णस्य कौरव-अवज्ञा-निर्णयः तथा पाण्डव-योगाज्ञा
Krishna on the Kauravas’ Rejection of Counsel; Pandava Readiness Ordered
गजा: कण्टकसंनाहा लोहवर्मोत्तरच्छदा: । दृश्यन्ते तत्र गिर्याभा: सहस्रशतयोधिन:
gajāḥ kaṇṭakasaṃnāhā lohavarmottaracchadāḥ | dṛśyante tatra giryābhāḥ sahasraśatayodhinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Allí se veían elefantes, enormes como montañas, armados con arneses de púas, cubiertos con cota de hierro y gualdrapas de hierro, cada uno capaz de combatir contra centenares y millares de guerreros.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the build-up of overwhelming martial resources intensifies the moral burden of choosing war; such displays of power function as intimidation and signal that the coming conflict will be catastrophic, thereby sharpening the ethical imperative to seek a just resolution.
Vaiśampāyana describes the war array: massive elephants, outfitted with spiked war-gear and iron protection, stand like mountains and are portrayed as capable of engaging vast numbers of enemy warriors—an image of formidable readiness on the battlefield.