Shloka 87
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्राकम्पन्त च सैन्यानि वाहनानि च सर्वशः । भीमेन समरे राजन् गजेन्द्रेणेव सर्वश:
prākampanta ca sainyāni vāhanāni ca sarvaśaḥ | bhīmena samare rājan gajendreṇeva sarvaśaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô roi, dans cette bataille, toute l’armée et ses montures, ses chars et ses attelages se mirent à trembler de toutes parts, saisis d’effroi devant Bhīma, qui parcourait le champ comme un éléphant seigneurial, chargeant ici et là. Et lorsqu’il bondissait sans cesse et se ruait en avant, la stupeur se répandit sur tous.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral-psychological dimension of war: sheer force and fearless momentum can collapse an opposing army’s resolve even before physical defeat, showing how fear and confusion spread contagiously in conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma is rampaging across the battlefield like a mighty elephant; his aggressive movements make the enemy troops and their vehicles tremble, and repeated charges throw the field into bewilderment.