Shloka 35
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्
Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement
केचिद् भिन्ना विषाणाग्रै्िन्नकुम्भाश्न तोमरै: । विनदन्तो<5 भ्यधावन्त गर्जमाना घना इव
sañjaya uvāca | kecid bhinnā viṣāṇāgrair bhinnakumbhāś ca tomaraiḥ | vinadanto 'bhyadhāvanta garjamānā ghanā iva ||
Sañjaya dit : Chez certains, les pointes des défenses furent brisées ; chez d’autres, les bosses frontales (les tempes) furent fendues par les coups de lances. En criant et en barrissant, ils couraient en tous sens, grondant comme des nuées de tonnerre.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh reality of war: even mighty creatures like war-elephants are reduced to terror and pain. It implicitly cautions that violence spreads suffering beyond the primary combatants, revealing the ethical cost of battle.
Sañjaya describes battlefield chaos among elephants: some have tusk-tips broken, others have their temple-regions split by spears; they cry out and run about, roaring like thunderclouds.