Shloka 6
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 155 — Ghaṭotkaca-nidhana-śoka and Karṇa-śakti-vyaya
Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance
महाराज! अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरे हुए मदमत्त हाथी परस्पर भिड़कर दाँतोंके प्रहारसे एक- दूसरेको विदीर्ण करने लगे ।। हयारोहान् हयारोहा: प्रासशक्तिपरश्वधै: । बिभिदुस्तुमुले युद्धे प्रार्थयन्तो महद् यश:,उस भयंकर युद्धमें महान् यशकी अभिलाषा रखते हुए घुड़सवार घुड़सवारोंको प्रास, शक्ति और फरसोंद्वारा घायल कर रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | mahārāja! atyanta-krodha-bhareṣu mada-matta-gajeṣu parasparaṁ bhiḍitvā dantaprahāraiḥ anyonyam vidīrayām āsuḥ || hayārohān hayārohāḥ prāsa-śakti-paraśvadhaiḥ | bibhiduḥ tumule yuddhe prārthayantaḥ mahad yaśaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai raja, gajah-gajah yang mabuk musth dan dipenuhi amarah melampau bertembung sesama sendiri lalu mula mengoyak satu sama lain dengan hentakan gading. Dan dalam pertempuran yang hiruk-pikuk itu, para penunggang kuda—mendambakan kemasyhuran besar—mencederakan penunggang kuda lawan dengan tombak, lembing dan kapak.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral danger of krodha (wrath) and the craving for yaśas (fame): when warriors fight primarily from rage and ambition, the battlefield becomes a frenzy where compassion and restraint are eclipsed, intensifying destruction.
Sanjaya describes a chaotic phase of the battle: maddened elephants collide and gore each other with tusks, while opposing cavalry units strike one another with spears, javelins, and axes, driven by the desire for great renown.