Shloka 33
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
मामतिक्रमते पार्थो धनुष्पाणिमवस्थितम् । जघने सर्वसैन्यानां ममाश्चान् प्रतिपादय
sañjaya uvāca |
mām atikramate pārtho dhanuṣpāṇim avasthitam |
jaghane sarvasainyānāṁ mamāśvān pratipādaya |
ສັນຊະຍະກ່າວວ່າ: “ອາຣຊຸນພະຍາຍາມຈະຜ່ານເກີນຂ້າ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ຂ້າຢືນຢູ່ນີ້ຖືຄັນທະນູໃນມື. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ໂອ ສາຣະຖີ, ຈົ່ງຂັບມ້າຂອງຂ້າໄປສູ່ທ້າຍກອງທັບທັງຫມົດ.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharmic framework of warfare, courage alone is insufficient; discernment and timely tactical movement are necessary to prevent greater harm. The verse highlights practical leadership—recognizing a threat (being outflanked) and issuing a clear command to preserve order in battle.
Sanjaya reports a battlefield moment where Arjuna attempts to pass beyond the speaker’s position while the speaker stands ready with a bow. To counter this, the speaker orders the charioteer to take the chariot’s horses to the rear of the army, indicating a repositioning to avoid being bypassed.