Shloka 57
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
सम्मथ्यमाना: क्रुद्धेन भीमसेनेन दन्तिन: । सहसा प्राद्रवन् क्लिष्टा मृदूनन्तस्तव वाहिनीम्,क्रोधमें भरे हुए भीमसेन हाथियोंको मथे डालते थे; अतः वे उनके द्वारा अत्यन्त क्लेश पाकर आपकी सेनाको कुचलते हुए सहसा युद्धस्थलसे भाग चले
sammathyamānāḥ kruddhena bhīmasenena dantinaḥ | sahasā prādravan kliṣṭā mṛdūnantaḥ tava vāhinīm ||
Sañjaya dit : Les éléphants, violemment malmenés et broyés par Bhīmasena dans sa colère, furent soudain accablés de détresse ; et, écrasant ton armée sur leur passage, ils s’enfuirent aussitôt du champ de bataille.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata insight: in war, rage and force can unleash uncontrollable chain-reactions. Even powerful assets like war-elephants, once panicked, become indiscriminate agents of destruction, harming allies and worsening adharma-like chaos on the field.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīmasena, fighting in anger, batters the elephants so severely that they become distressed and suddenly flee. In their stampede they trample and crush the Kaurava troops while escaping the battlefield.