Shloka 52
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
शतान्यायान्ति समरे बलिनां तिग्मतेजसाम् | पञ्च नागसहस्राणि द्विगुणा वाजिनस्तथा
śatāny āyānti samare balināṁ tigmātejasām | pañca nāgasahasrāṇi dviguṇā vājinās tathā
Sañjaya dit : «Dans le choc de la bataille, des centaines de guerriers puissants, à l’ardeur vive et tranchante, s’avancent. Avec eux viennent cinq mille éléphants, et des chevaux en nombre double.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war rapidly escalates through sheer mobilization of power—numbers, beasts, and martial energy—reminding the listener that such might magnifies the stakes and consequences of action (karma) in a dharmic crisis.
Sañjaya reports the approach of a large contingent: hundreds of powerful, radiant warriors, supported by five thousand elephants and twice as many horses, indicating a major concentration of forces on the battlefield.