Shloka 45
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
धृष्टद्युम्नहतानन्यानपश्याम महागजान् | पततः पात्यमानांश्व पार्षतेन महात्मना,हमलोगोंने धृष्टद्युम्नके द्वारा मारे गये बहुत-से हाथियोंको देखा, महामना ट्रुपदकुमारकी मार खाकर बहुत-से हाथी गिरे और गिराये जा रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumnahatān anyān apaśyāma mahāgajān | patataḥ pātyamānāṁś ca pārṣatena mahātmanā ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kami melihat banyak gajah perang raksasa yang tewas oleh Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Dipukul oleh sang mahātmā Pārṣata (putra Drupada), banyak gajah berjatuhan, dan banyak pula yang ia robohkan di tengah amuk pertempuran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic’s sober realism: even the mightiest instruments of war—great elephants—fall when confronted by determined leadership. It implicitly points to the grave cost of conflict and the relentless working-out of kṣatriya warfare, where prowess and duty operate amid widespread destruction.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he is witnessing on the battlefield: Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Drupada’s son, is cutting down numerous war-elephants; some are already dead, while others are collapsing or being forced to the ground under his assault.