Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 33
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
गदया भीमसेनेन भिन्नकुम्भान् रजस्वलान् । धावमानानपश्याम कुग्जरान् पर्वतोपमान्
sañjaya uvāca | gadayā bhīmasenena bhinnakumbhān rajasvalān | dhāvamānān apaśyāma kuñjarān parvatopamān |
Sanjaya berkata: Kami melihat para gajah perang, sebesar gunung, pelipisnya terbelah oleh gada Bhimasena—bersalut debu dan berlumuran darah—lalu lari bertempiaran dalam panik. Tatkala Bhimasena menggenggam gadanya, seluruh bala Kaurava pun menjadi gementar; dan di hadapan kami, gajah-gajah raksasa itu pecah pelipisnya lalu melarikan diri ke sana sini.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological reality of war: even immense power (mountain-like elephants) collapses under superior force, and fear spreads quickly. It implicitly warns that reliance on sheer might is unstable, and that violence produces panic and ruin rather than lasting security.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Bhima, wielding his mace, has smashed the temples of war-elephants. Dust-covered and wounded, the elephants break formation and run in different directions, signaling disruption and terror in the Kaurava forces.