Shloka 41
ततस्तद् युद्धमभवत् कुरूणां सुमहद् बलै: । नद्वात्रासीदनिर्भिन्नो रथ: सादी हयो गज:
tatas tad yuddham abhavat kurūṇāṃ sumahad balaiḥ | na dvātrāsīd anirbhinnō rathaḥ sādī hayo gajaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian meletuslah suatu pertempuran yang amat besar dengan bala Kurū. Dalam pertembungan itu, tiada sebuah kereta perang, tiada seorang penunggang, tiada seekor kuda, dan tiada seekor gajah pun yang tidak ditembusi—dihancurkan oleh anak panah Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the terrifying efficiency of martial skill in war and implicitly points to the ethical gravity of kṣatriya-duty: prowess can decide outcomes swiftly, yet it also multiplies suffering, reminding the listener that victory in dharmic war still carries moral and human cost.
Sañjaya reports that a massive engagement erupts with the Kuru forces, and Arjuna’s arrows are so devastating that virtually every chariot, rider, horse, and elephant in the opposing host is described as being pierced and broken.