Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
अद्विसारमयी गुर्वी प्रगृह्ा महतीं गदाम् । अभ्यधावद् गजानीकं व्यादितास्य इवान्तक:,लोहेकी उस विशाल एवं भारी गदाको लेकर वे मुँह बाये हुए कालके समान उस गजसेनाकी ओर दौड़े
advisāramayī gurvī pragṛhya mahatīṁ gadām | abhyadhāvad gajānīkaṁ vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಕಬ್ಬಿಣದ ಆ ಮಹತ್ತರ, ಭಾರೀ ಗದೆಯನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡು, ಬಾಯಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟ ಅಂತಕನಂತೆ ಆನೆದಳದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಧಾವಿಸಿದನು.
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the inevitability of death in war and the terrifying momentum of martial fury. By comparing the attacker to Antaka (Death), it frames battle as a realm where human agency meets inexorable fate—prompting reflection on the ethical cost of violence even amid kṣatriya valor.
Sañjaya describes a warrior seizing a huge, heavy iron mace and charging into the elephant formation. The simile ‘like Death with mouth agape’ intensifies the scene, portraying the assault on the gajānīka as overwhelming and destructive.