Shloka 52
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
नदत: सीदतकश्चान्यान् विमुखान् समरे गतान् । विद्रुतान् भयसंविग्नांस्तथा विशकृतो5परान्,किन्हींके दाँत टूट गये, किन्हींकी सूँड़ कट गयी, कितनोंकी जाँघें टूट गयीं, किन्हींकी पीठ टूट गयी और कितने ही पर्वतोंके समान विशालकाय गजराज मारे गये, कुछ चिग्घाड़ रहे थे, कुछ कष्टसे कराह रहे थे, कुछ युद्धभूमिसे विमुख होकर भागने लगे थे और कुछ भयसे व्याकुल होकर मल-मूत्र कर रहे थे। इन सबको मैंने अपनी आँखों देखा था
nadatāḥ sīdatakaś cānyān vimukhān samare gatān | vidrutān bhayasaṃvignāṃs tathā viśakṛto 'parān ||
Sañjaya said: “I saw with my own eyes some elephants trumpeting, others collapsing in exhaustion; some, having turned away, retreating from the battle; some fleeing in panic; and others so terrified that they voided their bowels and urine. Such was the dreadful spectacle of war that unfolded before me.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the brutal psychological and physical collapse produced by war—fear, panic, and loss of dignity—serving as an implicit ethical reminder that violence dehumanizes and overwhelms even the mighty.
Sañjaya reports what he personally witnessed on the battlefield: elephants (and combatants by implication) trumpeting, faltering, turning back, fleeing in terror, and even losing bodily control due to fear.