Shloka 553
निर्मनुष्यान् गजस्कन्धान् पादातांश्वैव विद्रुतान् । भारत! उसने रथकी बैठकें सूनी कर दीं, घोड़ोंकी पीठें खाली कर दीं, हाथियोंके पीठों और कंधोंपर कोई मनुष्य नहीं रहने दिये और पैदलोंको भी मार भगाया
nirmanuṣyān gajaskandhān pādātāṁś caiva vidrutān | bhārata!
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, ia mengosongkan tempat duduk kereta-kereta perang, membiarkan punggung kuda tanpa penunggang, membersihkan bahu gajah dari para prajurit, dan memukul mundur pasukan pejalan kaki hingga lari tunggang-langgang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the immediate human cost and destabilizing force of war: when leadership and protection collapse, even organized units (chariots, cavalry, elephant corps, infantry) become empty or scattered. Ethically, it underscores how violence produces fear and disorder, not merely victory.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a powerful warrior’s assault has broken formations: chariots are left without occupants, horses and elephants are without riders, and the foot-soldiers have been driven into flight.