Shloka 13
Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)
सम्यक् प्रणीता नागाश्च प्रभिन्नकरटामुखा: । ऋष्टितोमरनाराचैर्निविंद्धा वरवारणा:,गजानां पादरक्षास्तु व्यूढोरस्का: प्रहारिण: । ऋष्टिभि श्र थनुर्भिश्च विमलैश्नव परश्वधै:
saṃyak praṇītā nāgāś ca prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ | ṛṣṭitomaranārācair niviṃddhā varavāraṇāḥ, gajānāṃ pādarakṣās tu vyūḍhoraskāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | ṛṣṭibhiḥ śaradhanurbhiś ca vimalaiś nava-paraśvadhaiḥ |
Sanjaya berkata: Gajah-gajah itu digerakkan maju dengan mahir, pelipisnya mengalir ketika mereka menerjang. Tunggangan bertaring yang gagah itu ditembusi oleh lembing, tombak lontar, dan anak panah bermata besi. Dan para pengawal kaki yang ditugaskan melindungi gajah—berdada bidang dan terlatih untuk memukul—terus bertempur dengan lembing, dengan busur dan anak panah, serta dengan kapak yang berkilau, baru diasah tajam.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined execution of martial duty—elephants are driven forward and protected by assigned infantry—while also revealing the harsh ethical reality of war: even magnificent creatures and their guards become targets, and skillful organization does not lessen the suffering inherent in violence.
Sanjaya narrates a battlefield moment where charging elephants in musth are advanced into combat, get struck by spears, javelins, and iron-pointed arrows, and their accompanying foot-guards fight fiercely with spears, bows and arrows, and newly sharpened axes.