Shloka 66
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
श्रूयते चैव हृष्टानां पाण्डवानां महास्वनः । हस्तिनश्वैव सुमहान् भीतस्य रुदितध्वनि:,“देखो, हर्षमें भरे हुए पाण्डवोंका महान् सिंहनाद सुनायी पड़ता है और भगदत्तके डरे हुए हाथीके रोनेकी ध्वनि भी बड़े जोर-जोरसे कानोंमें आ रही है
śrūyate caiva hṛṣṭānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāsvanaḥ | hastinaś caiva sumahān bhītasya ruditadhvaniḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “One can hear the mighty roar of the Pāṇḍavas, exultant with joy; and also, loud and clear, the crying sound of the frightened elephant (of Bhagadatta).” In the moral atmosphere of the war, the verse contrasts uplifted courage and collective resolve with the fear and suffering that battle inflicts even upon animals and those driven into combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral contrast within war: the victorious side’s rising morale and unity are set against the fear and pain experienced by living beings caught in violence, reminding the listener that triumph in battle is inseparable from suffering and ethical cost.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield sounds: the Pāṇḍavas, thrilled and confident, raise a powerful roar, while Bhagadatta’s elephant—struck by fear—cries out loudly, signaling a shift in momentum and the terror spreading through the opposing forces.