Shloka 4
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
तामापतन्तीं महतीं कलिड्रानां महाचमूम् । रथाश्वनागकलिलां प्रगृहीतमहायुधाम्
tām āpatantīṁ mahatīṁ kaliḍrāṇāṁ mahācamūm | rathāśvanāgakalilāṁ pragṛhītamahāyudhām ||
तब उसने कलिंगों की उस विशाल सेना को टूट पड़ते देखा—रथ, घोड़े और हाथियों से घनी, और बड़े-बड़े आयुध धारण किए हुए।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral gravity of war by emphasizing the scale and preparedness of the forces: when vast, well-armed hosts surge forward, the consequences are collective and irreversible, reminding the listener that choices leading to battle carry immense ethical weight.
Sañjaya describes a large contingent—identified as the Kaliṅga host—charging into action. The army is portrayed as densely filled with chariots, horses, and elephants, and equipped with heavy weaponry, signaling an imminent clash.