Shloka 47
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
स शस्त्रवृष्ट्याभिहत: समस्तैस्तैर्महारथै: । प्राग्ज्योतिषगजो राजन् नानालिड्रैः सुतेजनै:
sa śastravṛṣṭyābhihataḥ samastais tair mahārathaiḥ | prāgjyotiṣa-gajo rājan nānāliḍraiḥ sutejanaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, the elephant from Prāgjyotiṣa was struck by a veritable rain of weapons, hurled together by all those great chariot-warriors, with many kinds of razor-edged, keenly sharpened missiles. The scene underscores how, in the fury of battle, even mighty strength and royal power are tested by coordinated force and relentless martial resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: even formidable might (symbolized by a powerful war-elephant) can be overwhelmed by sustained, collective assault. Ethically, it points to the gravity of choosing war—once unleashed, it subjects all beings to relentless harm, testing courage and restraint alike.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the elephant associated with Prāgjyotiṣa is being battered by a concentrated shower of weapons launched by multiple great chariot-warriors, using many kinds of sharp, cutting missiles.