Shloka 40
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
सोअन्तरायुधिन हत्वा राजपुत्रमरिंदम: । गुरु भारसहं स्कन्धे नागस्यासिमपातयत्,इस प्रकार गजारूढ़ होकर युद्ध करनेवाले कलिंगराजकुमारको मारकर शत्रुदमन भीमसेनने भार सहनेमें समर्थ अपनी भारी तलवारको उस हाथीके कंधेपर भी दे मारा
so ’ntarāyudhinaṃ hatvā rājaputram arindamaḥ | guru-bhāra-sahaṃ skandhe nāgasya āsīm apātayat ||
अशा रीतीने हत्तीवरून युद्ध करणाऱ्या कलिंगराजपुत्राला ठार मारून, शत्रुदमन भीमसेनाने भार सहन करणारी आपली जड तलवार त्या हत्तीच्या खांद्यावर घाव घातला.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethical reality of dharma in war: a warrior acts decisively against immediate threats, and in the momentum of battle even the mount (the war-elephant) becomes part of the hostile force to be neutralized. It reflects valor and duty rather than personal cruelty, while still exposing the cost of violence.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, after killing the elephant-mounted prince of Kaliṅga, strikes the elephant itself on the shoulder with his heavy sword, continuing the assault amid the chaos of the Kurukṣetra battle.