Shloka 6
कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य प्रोत्साहनम् — Kṛṣṇa’s Exhortation to Arjuna
Prelude to Karṇa’s Slaying
पत्तय: पत्तिसंघांश्ष हयसंघांश्व॒ पत्तय: । पत्तयो रथमातड्जन् रथा हस्त्यश्वमेव च
pattayaḥ pattisaṅghāṁś ca hayasaṅghāṁś ca pattayaḥ | pattayo ratham ātaḍjan rathā hastyaśvam eva ca ||
संजय म्हणाला—पायदळांनी पायदळांचे समूह आणि घोडदळांचे समूहही पाडले; आणि तेच पायदळ रथांवरही तुटून पडले—रथींसह, हत्तीं व घोड्यांसह. युद्धात असा घनघोर गोंधळ माजला की सैन्याचे प्रत्येक अंग दुसऱ्यावरच धावून गेले.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the indiscriminate spread of violence in war: once battle intensifies, distinctions of rank and arm (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants) collapse into mutual assault. Ethically, it hints at war’s tendency to engulf all participants, making restraint and discernment difficult.
Sañjaya describes a fierce clash where infantry units attack other infantry and cavalry formations, and then press against chariots as well, striking at the chariot-warriors and their supporting animals—elephants and horses—depicting a tightly packed, chaotic engagement.