Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
अश्ववन्देषु नागेषु रथानीकेषु चाभि भू: । पदातीनां च संघेषु विनिघ्नन् शोणितोक्षित:,शक्तिशाली भीमसेन घोड़ों, हाथियों, रथों और पैदलोंके समूहोंमें घुसकर सबका संहार करते हुए रक्तसे भीग गये
aśvavandeṣu nāgeṣu rathānīkeṣu cābhibhūḥ | padātīnāṃ ca saṃgheṣu vinighnan śoṇitokṣitaḥ ||
ଶକ୍ତିଶାଳୀ ଭୀମସେନ ଘୋଡ଼ା, ହାତୀ, ରଥଦଳ ଓ ପଦାତିମାନଙ୍କ ଦଳମଧ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରି ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ନିଧନ କରୁକରୁ ରକ୍ତରେ ସିକ୍ତ ହୋଇଗଲା।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the warrior’s effectiveness in battle while implicitly pointing to the ethical gravity of war: even when action aligns with kṣatriya-duty, it is inseparable from suffering and bloodshed, inviting reflection on responsibility and consequence.
Sañjaya describes a fierce assault in which the warrior breaks into enemy groupings—cavalry, elephants, chariot-units, and infantry masses—cutting them down so extensively that he becomes drenched in blood.