Shloka 12
अथापरे द्रौणिहता महाद्विपा- स्त्रय: ससर्वायुधयोधकेतना: । निपेतुरु्व्या व्यसवो निपातिता- स्तथा यथा वज्रहता महाचला:,इसके बाद अअश्वत्थामाने सम्पूर्ण आयुधों, योद्धाओं और ध्वजाओंसहित अन्य तीन विशाल गजराजोंको मार गिराया। उसके द्वारा मारे गये वे विशाल गजराज वज्के मारे हुए महान् पर्वतोंके समान प्राणशून्य होकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
athāpare drauṇihatā mahādvipās trayaḥ sa-sarvāyudha-yodha-ketanāḥ | nipetur urvyā vyasavo nipātitās tathā yathā vajrahatā mahācalāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Aśvatthāman struck down three other mighty elephant-lords, together with all their weapons, warriors, and banners. Slain by him, those great elephants fell lifeless upon the earth, like huge mountains shattered by Indra’s thunderbolt.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic’s stark portrayal of war: even the mightiest forces collapse when struck by superior force. Ethically, it highlights the tragic cost of battle—power and martial display (weapons, warriors, banners) can be extinguished in an instant, reminding the listener of impermanence and the heavy consequences of violence.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) kills three additional massive war-elephants along with their armed retinues and standards. The elephants fall dead to the ground, compared to great mountains brought down by Indra’s thunderbolt.