Shloka 89
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
भीमसेन भयत्रस्तं सैन्यं च समकम्पत । क्षोभ्यमाणमसम्बाधं ग्राहेणेव महत् सर:,जैसे महान् तालाब किसी ग्राहके द्वारा मथित होनेपर क्षुब्ध हो उठता है, उसी प्रकार वह सारी सेना भीमसेनके द्वारा बेरोक-टोक मथित होनेपर भयसे संत्रस्त हो काँपने लगी
sañjaya uvāca | bhīmasena-bhayatrastaṃ sainyaṃ ca samakampata | kṣobhyamāṇam asambādhaṃ grāheṇeva mahat saraḥ ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഭീമസേനന്റെ ഭയത്താൽ ത്രസ്തമായ ആ സൈന്യം വിറച്ചു. ഗ്രാഹം (മുതല) പിടിച്ച് മഥിക്കുമ്പോൾ മഹാസരോവർ എങ്ങനെ കലങ്ങുന്നുവോ, അതുപോലെ തടസ്സമില്ലാതെ മഥിതമായി ആ സൈന്യം കലാപത്തിലായി.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked force and fearless momentum can dissolve an army’s cohesion: fear spreads rapidly, and even a large host becomes unstable when confronted by overwhelming, relentless power. Ethically, it also points to the inner dimension of war—victory and collapse are shaped not only by weapons but by morale and the capacity to withstand terror.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma’s onslaught in the battle: as Bhīmasena attacks without being stopped, the opposing troops are shaken and panic-stricken. The army’s agitation is compared to a great lake violently churned when a crocodile seizes and thrashes within it.