Shloka 19
विषाणगात्रावरयोधपातिना गजेन हन्तुं शकुनिं कुलिन्दज: । जगाम वेगेन भृशार्दयंश्न तं ततो<स्य गान्धारपति: शिरो5हरत्,तत्पश्चात् दूसरे कुलिन्दराजकुमारने शकुनिको मार डालनेके लिये दाँत, शरीर और सूँड़के द्वारा बड़े-बड़े योद्धाओंको मार गिरानेवाले हाथीके द्वारा उसपर वेगपूर्वक आक्रमण किया और उसे अत्यन्त घायल कर दिया। तब गान्धारराज शकुनिने उसका सिर काट लिया
Sañjaya uvāca: viṣāṇa-gātrāvara-yodha-pātinā gajena hantuṁ Śakuniṁ Kulindajaḥ | jagāma vegena bhṛśa-ardayaṁs taṁ tato ’sya Gāndhāra-patiḥ śiro ’harat ||
Sañjaya said: A prince of the Kulindas, intent on killing Śakuni, charged at him at speed upon an elephant that, with its tusks, massive body, and trunk, had been felling great warriors. He struck Śakuni fiercely and grievously wounded him; but then the lord of Gāndhāra (Śakuni) cut off the attacker’s head. The episode underscores the brutal reciprocity of battlefield violence: even a powerful assault driven by vengeance and martial prowess can be answered instantly by ruthless counter-killing, with little space left for restraint or mercy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral reality of war: aggression invites immediate counter-aggression, and even great strength (an elephant charge) does not guarantee victory. It implicitly warns that in the chaos of battle, outcomes turn swiftly, and violence escalates with little room for compassion.
A Kulinda prince rushes at Śakuni on a war-elephant that has been toppling warriors, wounds Śakuni severely, but Śakuni—described as the lord of Gāndhāra—responds by cutting off the prince’s head.