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Shloka 173

Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam

Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32

पतितान्‌ पोथयाज्चक्रुर्द्धिपा: स्थूलनलानिव । काले रंगके लोहमय कवच धारण करके रणभूमिमें गिरे हुए कितने ही मनुष्यों, रथों, घोड़ों और हाथियोंको बड़े-बड़े गजराजोंने मोटे नरकुलोंके समान रौंद डाला

patitān pothayāṃś cakrur dhīpāḥ sthūla-nalān iva |

Sañjaya berkata: Gajah-gajah raksasa itu menginjak-injak apa pun yang telah jatuh di medan laga—manusia, kereta, kuda, bahkan gajah lain—menghancurkannya laksana batang-batang gelagah yang tebal.

पतितान्fallen (ones)
पतितान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपतित (√पत्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
पोथयाम्crushed / pounded
पोथयाम्:
TypeVerb
Rootपोथय (causative of √पुथ्/√पुथ् ~ to crush/pound)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural
चक्रुःdid
चक्रुः:
TypeVerb
Root√कृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural
द्विपाःelephants
द्विपाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्विप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्थूल-नलान्thick reeds
स्थूल-नलान्:
TypeNoun
Rootस्थूल + नल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
इवlike / as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
E
elephants (gajarāja)
M
men (warriors)
C
chariots
H
horses
B
battlefield

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the dehumanizing force of war: once combat reaches its peak, even the fallen—who would ordinarily deserve protection—can be crushed by uncontrolled violence. It invites reflection on dharma in warfare and the moral cost when power operates without restraint.

Sañjaya describes a chaotic battlefield moment in the Droṇa Parva where great elephants surge through the field and trample down those already fallen—warriors along with their mounts and vehicles—likening them to thick reeds being crushed.