Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
गदया वध्यमानास्ते मार्गणैश्न॒ समन््ततः । स्वान्यनीकानि मृद्नन्तः प्राद्रवन् कुड्जरास्तव,महाराज! चारों ओरसे गदा और बाणोंकी मार पड़नेपर आपकी सेनाके वे समस्त हाथी अपने ही सैनिकोंको कुचलते हुए भाग रहे थे
gadāyā vadhyamānās te mārgaṇaiś ca samantataḥ | svāny anīkāni mṛdnantaḥ prādravan kuñjarās tava, mahārāja ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಮಹಾರಾಜನೇ! ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಿಂದ ಗದಾಪ್ರಹಾರಗಳೂ ಬಾಣವೃಷ್ಟಿಯೂ ಬಿದ್ದಾಗ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸೇನೆಯ ಆ ಆನೆಗಳು ಭೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಓಡಿಹೋದವು; ಓಡುತ್ತಾ ತಮ್ಮದೇ ವ್ಯೂಹಗಳನ್ನು ತುಳಿದು ನಾಶಮಾಡಿದವು।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights a recurring ethical reality of war: violence and panic do not remain neatly directed at an enemy. When fear spreads, even one’s own forces suffer—showing how adharma-like chaos and unintended harm arise from battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava elephants, attacked from all sides by maces and arrows, lose control and flee. In their stampede they crush their own allied formations while retreating.