Shloka 46
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
मागधो5थ महीपालो गजमैरावणोपमम् । प्रेषयामास समरे सौभद्रस्य रथं प्रति,इसी समय मगधदेशीय भूपालने युद्धस्थलमें अभिमन्युके रथकी ओर ऐरावतके समान एक विशाल हाथीको प्रेरित किया
māgadho 'tha mahīpālo gajam airāvaṇopamam | preṣayāmāsa samare saubhadrasya rathaṃ prati ||
સંજય બોલ્યા—ત્યારે મગધદેશના રાજાએ યુદ્ધમધ્યે ઐરાવત સમાન એક વિશાળ હાથીને સૌભદ્ર (અભિમન્યુ)ના રથ તરફ ધકેલ્યો।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata: warfare often turns on intimidation and massed force rather than fair, equal engagement. It invites reflection on how power can be used to pressure a single opponent and how such tactics test the ideals of kṣatriya conduct.
Sañjaya reports that a Magadhan king dispatches a massive elephant, likened to Indra’s Airāvata, to rush toward Abhimanyu’s chariot. It is a tactical move to threaten or break the chariot-warrior by deploying an overwhelming beast in close combat.