Shloka 6
कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य प्रोत्साहनम् — Kṛṣṇa’s Exhortation to Arjuna
Prelude to Karṇa’s Slaying
पत्तय: पत्तिसंघांश्ष हयसंघांश्व॒ पत्तय: । पत्तयो रथमातड्जन् रथा हस्त्यश्वमेव च
pattayaḥ pattisaṅghāṁś ca hayasaṅghāṁś ca pattayaḥ | pattayo ratham ātaḍjan rathā hastyaśvam eva ca ||
サञ्जयは言った。「歩兵は歩兵の群れを、また騎兵の群れをも打ち倒し、歩兵は戦車にも襲いかかった――車上の勇士、象、馬をもろともに。戦場は全き錯綜であり、押し合う戦の渦の中で、軍のあらゆる兵種が互いに向き合って刃を交えた。ひとたび放たれた暴力が、抑えなく諸隊列へ広がってゆくさまがそこにあった。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the indiscriminate spread of violence in war: once battle intensifies, distinctions of rank and arm (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants) collapse into mutual assault. Ethically, it hints at war’s tendency to engulf all participants, making restraint and discernment difficult.
Sañjaya describes a fierce clash where infantry units attack other infantry and cavalry formations, and then press against chariots as well, striking at the chariot-warriors and their supporting animals—elephants and horses—depicting a tightly packed, chaotic engagement.