Shloka 333
Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)
विकर्षन्तो दिश: सर्वा: सम्पेतु: सर्वशब्दगा: । प्रत्येक शब्दकी ओर गमन करनेवाले कितने ही हाथी घोड़ोंसहित रथोंकी अपनी सूँड्रोंसे खींचकर उन्हें लिये-दिये सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें दौड़ रहे थे
vikarṣanto diśaḥ sarvāḥ sampetuḥ sarvaśabdagāḥ | pratyekaśabdakī ora gamana karanevāle kitane hī hastī ghoṛoṃsahitā rathōṃkī apanī sūṇḍroṃse khīṃcakara unheṃ liye-diye sampūrṇa diśāoṃmeṃ dauṛa rahe the
Gaduh pertempuran merebak ke segala penjuru. Tertarik pada tiap bunyi yang berbeda, banyak gajah—bersama kuda-kuda—mencengkeram kereta dengan belalai, menyeret dan membawanya, lalu berlari ke seluruh arah di medan laga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war dissolves control and discernment: forces are driven by the din of conflict, leading to uncontrolled harm. Ethically, it hints at the tragic momentum of violence—once begun, it spreads beyond intention and discipline.
Sanjaya describes the battlefield confusion where elephants, reacting to cries and clashes from different directions, seize and drag chariots (with horses) using their trunks and rush about, intensifying the disorder and destruction.