Shloka 7
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
निर्मनुष्यांश्न मातज्रान् शयानान् पर्वतोपमान् | अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मास्त्रेण प्रमोहितान्,महाराज! हमने देखा, भीष्मके अस्त्रसे मूर्च्छित हो बहुत-से पर्वताकार गजराज रणभूमिमें पड़े हैं और उनके पास कोई मनुष्य नहीं है
nirmanuṣyān mātajān śayānān parvatopamān | apaśyāma mahārāja bhīṣmāstreṇa pramohitān ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಮಹಾರಾಜ! ಭೀಷ್ಮನ ಅಸ್ತ್ರದಿಂದ ಮೋಹಿತರಾಗಿ, ಪರ್ವತೋಪಮವಾದ ಗಜರಾಜರು ಯುದ್ಧಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಕಂಡೆವು; ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ಯಾವ ಮಾನವನೂ (ಮಹಾವತ್/ಸವಾರ) ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the devastating, impersonal force of war: even mighty beings like war-elephants become helpless when struck by powerful weapons. It implicitly highlights the ethical gravity of martial power—strength and skill in battle bring widespread suffering, not only to human warriors but also to animals drawn into conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he sees on the battlefield: many huge war-elephants lie fallen and riderless, having been stunned or rendered unconscious by Bhīṣma’s weapon. The image conveys the scale of Bhīṣma’s prowess and the chaos of the ongoing battle.