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 said: We saw many great war-elephants lying slain by Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Struck by that high-souled son of Pārṣata (Drupada), many elephants were falling, and many more were being brought down as the battle raged on.
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.