Shloka 13
Pāṇḍya-vadha-anantaram Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Response and the Renewed Battle
तेषां द्विपानां निचकर्त पार्थी वर्माणि चर्माणि करान् नियन्तृन् । ध्वजान् पताकांश्व ततः प्रपेतु- वजाहतानीव गिरे: शिरांसि
teṣāṁ dvipānāṁ nicakarta pārthī varmāṇi carmāṇi karān niyantṝn | dhvajān patākāṁś ca tataḥ prapetuḥ vajrāhatānīva gireḥ śirāṁsi ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ପାର୍ଥ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ତାଙ୍କ ଗଜମାନଙ୍କର କବଚ ଓ ଚର୍ମ, ସୁଣ୍ଡ ଓ ମହାଉତ, ଧ୍ୱଜ ଓ ପତାକା—ସବୁକୁ ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ବାଣରେ କାଟିଦେଲେ। ତାପରେ ସେମାନେ ବଜ୍ରାଘାତରେ ଭଙ୍ଗିଥିବା ପର୍ବତଶିଖର ପରି ଭୂମିରେ ପଡ଼ିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic’s battlefield ethic: a kṣatriya hero acts with focused skill to neutralize the enemy’s instruments of war (elephants, drivers, standards). It reflects dharma-yuddha as disciplined, goal-directed combat, even while acknowledging the harsh reality of violence.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna systematically disables a group of enemy war-elephants—cutting their protective gear, trunks, and drivers, and bringing down their flags and banners—so that they topple to the ground like mountain summits shattered by a thunderbolt.