Shloka 23
कर्णार्जुनयुद्ध-प्रवृत्तिः
Renewal of the Karṇa–Arjuna Engagement at Day’s End
ततस्तदभवद् युद्ध॑ रथिनां हस्तिभि: सह । सृजतां शरवर्षाणि तोमरांश्व सहस्रशः,तब उन रथियोंका हाथियोंके साथ युद्ध छिड़ गया। वे रथी वीर उनके ऊपर सहसों तोमरों और बाणोंकी वर्षा कर रहे थे
tatas tad abhavad yuddhaṁ rathināṁ hastibhiḥ saha | sṛjatāṁ śaravarṣāṇi tomarāṁś ca sahasraśaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kemudian meletuslah pertempuran sengit antara para pahlawan berkereta perang dan gajah-gajah. Para wira di atas kereta mencurahkan hujan anak panah dan melontar lembing beribu-ribu, menambah dahsyatnya pembantaian.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily functions as battlefield reportage rather than explicit moral instruction; implicitly, it highlights how quickly conflict escalates once opposing forces engage, underscoring the grave cost and momentum of war that dharma must strive to restrain.
A direct clash erupts between chariot-fighters and elephant units, and the chariot-warriors intensify the engagement by releasing dense volleys of arrows and hurling spears in vast numbers.