Shloka 11

Devanagari script

ते त॑ ममर्दु: सहसा चेष्टमानं महीतले । हाहाकारं प्रमुड्चन्त: सार्थिका: शरणार्थिन:,उन हाथियोंने सहसा पहुँचकर समूचे दलको कुचल दिया। कितने ही मनुष्य धरतीपर पड़े-पड़े छटपटा रहे थे। उस दलके कितने ही पुरुष हाहाकार करते हुए बचावकी जगह खोजते हुए जंगलके पौधोंके समूहमें भाग गये। बहुत-से मनुष्य तो नींदके मारे अन्धे हो रहे थे। हाथियोंने किन्हींको दाँतोंसे, किन्हींको सूड़ोंसे और कितनोंको पैरोंसे घायल कर दिया

Transliteration

te taṁ mamarduḥ sahasā ceṣṭamānaṁ mahītale | hāhākāraṁ pramuñcantaḥ sārthikāḥ śaraṇārthinaḥ ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “Those elephants suddenly trampled him as he struggled upon the ground. The caravan-men, crying out in terror and seeking refuge, raised a great wail.”

Word by Word

तेthey (those)

तम्him/that one

ममर्दुःcrushed, trampled

सहसाsuddenly

चेष्टमानम्struggling, moving about

महीतलेon the ground (earth-surface)

हाहाकारम्a cry of distress

प्रमुञ्चन्तःuttering, letting out

सार्थिकाःtravellers, members of a caravan

शरणार्थिनःseeking refuge

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

elephants

caravan (sārtha)

caravan-men/travellers (sārthikāḥ)

earth/ground (mahītala)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights human helplessness when confronted by sudden, overwhelming danger, and how fear drives people to seek śaraṇa (refuge). Ethically, it underscores the need for vigilance and responsible conduct in hazardous environments, and compassion toward those caught in calamity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bṛhadaśva’s narration, elephants charge and trample a person on the ground; the caravan-men panic, cry out loudly, and scatter in search of safety.