Shloka 7
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
निर्मनुष्यांश्न मातज्रान् शयानान् पर्वतोपमान् | अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मास्त्रेण प्रमोहितान्,महाराज! हमने देखा, भीष्मके अस्त्रसे मूर्च्छित हो बहुत-से पर्वताकार गजराज रणभूमिमें पड़े हैं और उनके पास कोई मनुष्य नहीं है
nirmanuṣyān mātajān śayānān parvatopamān | apaśyāma mahārāja bhīṣmāstreṇa pramohitān ||
サンジャヤは言った。「大王よ、我らは山のごとき巨象が戦場に横たわり、乗り手を失い、ビーシュマの武器によって気絶させられているのを見た。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the devastating, impersonal force of war: even mighty beings like war-elephants become helpless when struck by powerful weapons. It implicitly highlights the ethical gravity of martial power—strength and skill in battle bring widespread suffering, not only to human warriors but also to animals drawn into conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he sees on the battlefield: many huge war-elephants lie fallen and riderless, having been stunned or rendered unconscious by Bhīṣma’s weapon. The image conveys the scale of Bhīṣma’s prowess and the chaos of the ongoing battle.