Shloka 47
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
ततस्ते प्राद्रवन् भीता: प्रतीपं प्रहिता: पुन: । महामात्रैस्तमावत्रुमेंघा इव दिवाकरम्,फिर तो वे हाथी भयभीत होकर भागने लगे। तत्पश्चात् महावतोंने जब उन्हें पीछे लौटाया, तब वे भीमसेनको घेरकर खड़े हो गये, मानो बादलोंने सूर्यदेवको ढक लिया हो
tatas te prādravan bhītāḥ pratīpaṃ prahitāḥ punaḥ | mahāmātraiḥ tam āvṛtāḥ meghā iva divākaram ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kemudian gajah-gajah itu, dilanda takut, pun lari. Namun apabila para mahout memaksa mereka berpatah balik menyerbu musuh, mereka mengepung Bhīmasena, menyelubunginya—bagaikan awan menutupi matahari.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of warfare: fear causes even powerful creatures to break, while human command and coercion force them back into danger. Against this, Bhīma’s steadiness is implied—true valor is tested when one is ‘covered’ by overwhelming opposition.
Elephants on the battlefield panic and run. Their mahouts turn them back toward the enemy, and they mass around Bhīmasena, surrounding him so densely that he is compared to the sun hidden by clouds.