Shloka 38
Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation
संनिपाते बलौघानां प्रेषितैर्वरवारणै: । निपेतुर्युधि सम्भग्ना: सयोधा: सध्वजा गजा:
sannipāte balaughānāṁ preṣitair varavāraṇaiḥ | nipetur yudhi sambhagnāḥ sayodhāḥ sadhvajā gajāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertembungan padat antara himpunan bala tentera, ketika gajah-gajah besar di barisan hadapan digerakkan mara, banyak gajah yang lebih kecil hancur dan cacat dalam pertempuran lalu rebah ke bumi—bersama penunggangnya dan panji-panji mereka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the brutal, indiscriminate nature of war: power and prestige (great elephants, banners) do not prevent destruction, and many lives are crushed in the collective momentum of battle. It implicitly cautions against glorifying warfare by showing its human and animal cost.
Sañjaya describes a fierce clash where large, forward-driven war-elephants collide with smaller elephants; many are crippled and fall in the fighting, bringing down their riders and standards as well.