Shloka 50
Droṇa’s Renewed Advance toward Yudhiṣṭhira; Fall of Satyajit and Allied Recoil (द्रोणस्य युधिष्ठिरप्रेप्सा—सत्यजितः पतनम्)
सादितै: सगजारोहै: सपताकै: समन्तत: । मातद्जैः शुशुभे भूमिर्विकीर्णैरिव पर्वतै:,वहाँ मारे जाकर पताकाओं तथा गजारोहियोंसहित सब ओर गिरे हुए हाथियोंसे आच्छादित हुई वह भूमि ऐसी शोभा पा रही थी, मानो इधर-उधर बिखरे हुए पर्वतखण्डोंसे व्याप्त हो रही हो
sāditaiḥ sagajārohaiḥ sapatākaiḥ samantataḥ | māta-dvaiḥ śuśubhe bhūmir vikīrṇair iva parvataiḥ ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಧ್ವಜಗಳೂ ಗಜಾರೋಹಿಗಳೂ ಸಹಿತ ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಸಿದ ಮಾದಂಗಗಳ ದೇಹಗಳಿಂದ ಆ ಭೂಮಿ ಮುಚ್ಚಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು, ಚದುರಿದ ಪರ್ವತಖಂಡಗಳಿಂದ ವ್ಯಾಪಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಭಯಂಕರ ಶೋಭೆಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆದಿತು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrible cost of war: even what appears 'splendid' on the battlefield is a grim, deceptive beauty made from death and ruin. It invites ethical reflection on violence and the impermanence of power and martial display (elephants, banners, riders).
Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: elephants have been felled, and their riders and banners lie with them. The earth is covered with these huge bodies, making it look like it is strewn with scattered mountain-masses.