Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सैन्यप्रशंसा, भेदनवृत्तान्त-प्रश्नः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Praise of the Host and Inquiry after the Breach
मत्तानां सुविरूढानां हस्त्यारोहैरविशारदै: । नागानां भीमरूपाणां वर्मिणां रौद्रकर्मिणाम्,जिनपर युद्धकुशल हाथीसवार आरूढ थे, ऐसे भयंकर रूप तथा पराक्रमवाले डेढ़ हजार कवचधारी मतवाले गजराजोंके साथ आकर आपका पुत्र दुर्मर्षण युद्धके लिये उद्यत हो सम्पूर्ण सेनाओंके आगे खड़ा हुआ
mattānāṁ suvirūḍhānāṁ hastyārohair aviśāradaiḥ | nāgānāṁ bhīmarūpāṇāṁ varmiṇāṁ raudrakarmiṇām ||
Sañjaya said: “Mounted by elephant-riders who were not fully adept, there advanced a force of mighty, well-trained, rut-maddened elephants—terrible in form, clad in armor, and fierce in their deeds.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war amplifies raw power and terror—armored, maddened elephants become instruments of destruction, and even imperfect human skill (inexpert riders) can unleash immense harm. It implicitly cautions that martial might, when driven by rage and momentum, can overwhelm discernment and restraint.
Sañjaya reports the movement of a formidable elephant contingent: powerful, fully grown, rut-maddened elephants, armored and fearsome, advancing into battle while being ridden by men described as not fully expert.