Shloka 135
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
रणे रथानामयुतं निहत्य हता गजा: सप्तशतार्जुनेन । प्राच्याश्न सौवीरगणाश्ष सर्वे निपातिता: क्षुद्रकमालवाश्व
raṇe rathānām ayutaṃ nihatya hatā gajāḥ saptaśatārjunena | prācyāś ca sauvīragaṇāś ca sarve nipātitāḥ kṣudrakamālavāś ca ||
Sañjaya berkata: Di tengah pertempuran, Arjuna membunuh sepuluh ribu pahlawan kereta perang; dia juga menumbangkan tujuh ratus gajah. Demikian pula, seluruh pasukan dari timur dan rombongan Sauvīra ditewaskan, begitu juga kaum Kṣudraka dan Mālava.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the immense destructive capacity of martial excellence in war, implicitly pressing the ethical reflection that such power carries heavy responsibility—leaders and warriors must weigh dharma and consequences even when victory is possible through overwhelming force.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, in the battle, has slaughtered vast numbers—ten thousand chariot-warriors and seven hundred elephants—and has also cut down entire allied contingents, including the eastern troops, the Sauvīras, the Kṣudrakas, and the Mālavas.