Shloka 83
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
गजो गजेन समरे रथिनं च रथी ययौ । अश्वो5श्व॑ं समभिप्रायात् पदातिश्न॒ पदातिनम्,उस समरभूमिमें हाथी हाथीके साथ भिड़ गया, रथीने रथीपर आक्रमण किया, घुड़सवार घुड़सवारपर चढ़ आया और पैदलने पैदलके साथ युद्ध किया
sañjaya uvāca | gajo gajena samare rathinaṃ ca rathī yayau | aśvo 'śvaṃ samabhiprāyāt padātiś ca padātinam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertembungan perang, gajah bertemu gajah; pahlawan kereta perang menyerbu pahlawan kereta perang; penunggang kuda menerpa penunggang kuda; dan askar berjalan kaki bertarung dengan askar berjalan kaki. Maka pertempuran pun menjadi rangkaian pertemuan yang sepadan, setiap orang mencari lawan yang setara dalam himpitan medan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the impersonal momentum and structured nature of war: combatants meet like with like, showing how battle reduces individuals to roles (elephant, chariot, horse, foot) and drives reciprocal violence once conflict is joined.
Sañjaya describes the battle lines colliding on the field: elephants clash with elephants, chariot-fighters with chariot-fighters, cavalry with cavalry, and infantry with infantry—signaling a full-scale engagement across all arms.