Shloka 11
परंतु जैसे सूर्य अपनी किरणोंद्वारा अन्धकारको नष्ट कर देता है, उसी प्रकार पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने आकाशमें सब ओर फैली हुई उस बाणवर्षाको छिन्न-भिन्न कर डाला ।।
tato mlecchāḥ sthitā mattaiḥ trayodaśaśatair gajaiḥ | pārśvato vyahanan pārtha tava putrasya śāsanāt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian, atas perintah puteramu Duryodhana, pasukan Mleccha datang dengan seribu tiga ratus ekor gajah yang mengamuk kerana mabuk musim. Mereka mengambil kedudukan di sayap dan menyerang Pārtha, berniat melukakan Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war pressures leaders into escalating force—deploying massed, frenzied elephants and auxiliary troops against a single opponent—raising ethical questions about proportionality, responsibility of command, and the moral cost of victory-seeking tactics.
Under Duryodhana’s orders, Mleccha contingents arrive with 1,300 rut-maddened elephants and attack Arjuna from the flank, attempting to injure and overwhelm him amid the ongoing battle.