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Shloka 13

अध्याय ९१ — शैनेयस्य गजानीकभेदनं जलसंधवधश्च

Chapter 91: Sātyaki breaks the elephant array and slays Jalasaṃdha

हयानामुत्तम ज्ैश्व हस्तेहस्तैश्न मेदिनी । बाहुभिश्न शिरोभिश्नल वीराणां समकीर्यत,घोड़ोंके मस्तकों, हाथियोंकी सूँड़ों और वीरोंकी भुजाओं तथा सिरोंसे सारी रणभूमि आच्छादित हो गयी थी

hayānām uttamāś caiva hastihastaiś ca medinī | bāhubhiś ca śirobhiś ca vīrāṇāṁ samakīryata ||

サञ्जयは語った。戦場の大地は、斬り落とされた馬の首、象の鼻、そして武人たちの腕と首級によって散り敷かれ、覆い尽くされていた――あまりに夥しく、地そのものが戦の残骸の下に埋もれたかのようであった。この詩句は戦いの陰惨な道義的代償を示す。たとえ大義のための戦であっても、暴力は苦痛の景と、取り返しのつかぬ喪失を残すのである。

हयानाम्of horses
हयानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
उत्तमexcellent/best
उत्तम:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जैश्वJaiśva (proper name/epithet; uncertain reading)
जैश्व:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजैश्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हस्तेin/at the hand; in the trunk (of an elephant) (contextual)
हस्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहस्त
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
हस्तैःby/with hands; by/with trunks
हस्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहस्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
मेदिनीthe earth/ground (battlefield)
मेदिनी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमेदिनी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
बाहुभिःby/with arms
बाहुभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाहु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
शिरोभिःby/with heads
शिरोभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशिरस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
वीराणाम्of heroes/warriors
वीराणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
समकीर्यतwas strewn/was covered (all over)
समकीर्यत:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + कृ
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada (passive sense)

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
H
horses
E
elephants
W
warriors
B
battlefield/earth (medinī)

Educational Q&A

The verse offers a stark reminder of the human and moral cost of warfare: even when framed as duty, battle produces widespread destruction, urging reflection on violence, responsibility, and the gravity of dharma in action.

Sañjaya narrates to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the horrific state of the battlefield, describing the ground covered with severed heads of horses, elephant trunks, and the arms and heads of fallen warriors.