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Shloka 64

Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements

गदया वध्यमानास्ते मार्गणैश्न॒ समन्‍्ततः । स्वान्यनीकानि मृद्नन्तः प्राद्रवन्‌ कुड्जरास्तव,महाराज! चारों ओरसे गदा और बाणोंकी मार पड़नेपर आपकी सेनाके वे समस्त हाथी अपने ही सैनिकोंको कुचलते हुए भाग रहे थे

gadāyā vadhyamānās te mārgaṇaiś ca samantataḥ | svāny anīkāni mṛdnantaḥ prādravan kuñjarās tava, mahārāja ||

संजय म्हणाला—महाराज! सर्व बाजूंनी गदेचे प्रहार आणि बाणांची वर्षा होताच तुमच्या सैन्यातील ते हत्ती घाबरून पळाले; पळताना त्यांनी आपल्या सैन्यरचना पायदळी तुडविल्या।

गदयाwith a mace
गदया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगदा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
वध्यमानाःbeing struck/killed
वध्यमानाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootवध्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तेthose
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
मार्गणैःwith arrows
मार्गणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमार्गण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
समन्ततःon all sides
समन्ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्ततः
स्वानिtheir own
स्वानि:
TypeAdjective
Rootस्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अनीकानिtroops/formations
अनीकानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअनीक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
मृद्नन्तःcrushing/trampling
मृद्नन्तः:
TypeVerb
Rootमृद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्राद्रवन्ran away/fled
प्राद्रवन्:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु
FormImperfect, 3rd, Plural
कुञ्जराःelephants
कुञ्जराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकुञ्जर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तवyour
तव:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
E
elephants (kuñjarāḥ)
M
mace (gadā)
A
arrows (mārgaṇāḥ)
A
army formations (anīkāni)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a recurring ethical reality of war: violence and panic do not remain neatly directed at an enemy. When fear spreads, even one’s own forces suffer—showing how adharma-like chaos and unintended harm arise from battle.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava elephants, attacked from all sides by maces and arrows, lose control and flee. In their stampede they crush their own allied formations while retreating.