Shloka 80
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
गजा हया: पदाताश्ष विमिश्रा दन्तिभिहता: । रथाश्वा दन्तिनश्वैव पत्तिभिस्तत्र सूदिता:
sañjaya uvāca |
gajā hayāḥ padātāś ca vimiśrā dantibhir hatāḥ |
rathāśvā dantinaś caiva pattibhis tatra sūditāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertempuran yang rapat dan kusut itu, gajah, kuda, dan prajurit pejalan kaki—bercampur baur—ditumbangkan oleh para penunggang gajah. Di sana, kereta, kuda, bahkan gajah pun dijatuhkan oleh infanteri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the chaotic and leveling nature of war: in the crush of battle, every military arm becomes both hunter and prey. Ethically, it highlights the tragic cost of conflict and the fragility of worldly power—rank, strength, and equipment do not guarantee safety when adharma-driven hostility escalates into indiscriminate slaughter.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the battlefield has become a dense mêlée. Elephants are killing mixed groups of elephants, horses, and infantry; meanwhile infantry also brings down chariots, horses, and even elephants. The description emphasizes mutual destruction across all units in the Kaurava–Pāṇḍava engagement.