Shloka 13
Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)
सम्यक् प्रणीता नागाश्च प्रभिन्नकरटामुखा: । ऋष्टितोमरनाराचैर्निविंद्धा वरवारणा:,गजानां पादरक्षास्तु व्यूढोरस्का: प्रहारिण: । ऋष्टिभि श्र थनुर्भिश्च विमलैश्नव परश्वधै:
saṃyak praṇītā nāgāś ca prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ | ṛṣṭitomaranārācair niviṃddhā varavāraṇāḥ, gajānāṃ pādarakṣās tu vyūḍhoraskāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | ṛṣṭibhiḥ śaradhanurbhiś ca vimalaiś nava-paraśvadhaiḥ |
Sañjaya dit : Les éléphants furent menés en avant avec maîtrise ; lorsqu’ils chargèrent, leurs tempes ruisselaient. Ces splendides porteurs de défenses furent transpercés de lances, de javelots et de flèches à pointe de fer. Et les gardes à pied chargés de protéger les éléphants—à la poitrine large, exercés à frapper—continuèrent le combat avec des lances, avec arcs et flèches, et avec des haches éclatantes, fraîchement aiguisées.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined execution of martial duty—elephants are driven forward and protected by assigned infantry—while also revealing the harsh ethical reality of war: even magnificent creatures and their guards become targets, and skillful organization does not lessen the suffering inherent in violence.
Sanjaya narrates a battlefield moment where charging elephants in musth are advanced into combat, get struck by spears, javelins, and iron-pointed arrows, and their accompanying foot-guards fight fiercely with spears, bows and arrows, and newly sharpened axes.