Shloka 32
अध्याय ९१ — शैनेयस्य गजानीकभेदनं जलसंधवधश्च
Chapter 91: Sātyaki breaks the elephant array and slays Jalasaṃdha
पा्ष्ण्यड्गुष्ठाड्कुशैर्नागं चोदयन्तस्तथा परे । शरै: सम्मोहिताश्चान्ये तमेवाभिमुखा ययु: । तव योधा हतोत्साहा विभ्रान्तमनसस्तदा,दूसरे गजारोही सैनिक अपने पैरोंके अँगूठों और अंकुशोंद्वारा हाथियोंको हाँकते हुए रणभूमिसे पलायन कर रहे थे। कितने ही योद्धा अर्जुनके बाणोंसे मोहित होकर उन्हींके सामने चले जाते थे। उस समय आपके सभी योद्धाओंका उत्साह नष्ट हो गया था और मनमें बड़ी भारी घबराहट पैदा हो गयी थी
pārṣṇyaṅguṣṭhāṅkuśair nāgaṃ codayantas tathā pare | śaraiḥ sammohitāś cānye tam evābhimukhā yayuḥ | tava yodhā hatotsāhā vibhrāntamanasas tadā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Sebagian penunggang gajah, mendorong gajah dengan tumit, jari kaki, dan kait pengendali, berusaha lari dari medan perang; namun sebagian lain, terbius oleh panah-panah Arjuna, justru bergerak lurus menghadapnya. Saat itu semangat para prajuritmu runtuh, dan pikiran mereka dilanda kekacauan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can overturn strategy and even basic survival instincts in war: when morale breaks, people act against their own interest, rushing toward the very danger they meant to avoid. It implicitly underscores the ethical weight of leadership and the consequences of adharma-driven conflict—inner steadiness becomes as decisive as weapons.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Kaurava forces are disoriented under Arjuna’s assault. Some elephant-riders try to flee by driving their mounts with heel, toe, and goad, while others—stunned by Arjuna’s arrows—move straight toward Arjuna. Overall, the Kaurava warriors lose heart and become mentally unsettled.