Shloka 20
कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य प्रोत्साहनम् — Kṛṣṇa’s Exhortation to Arjuna
Prelude to Karṇa’s Slaying
दूसरे बहुत-से हाथी बाणोंसे व्यथित और घावोंसे पीड़ित हो भाग चले और कितने ही उस महासमरमें दोनों दाँतों और कुम्भस्थलोंको धरतीपर टेककर धराशायी हो गये ।। विनेदु: सिंहवच्चान्ये नदन्तो भैरवान् रवान् | बश्रमुर्बहवो राजं॑श्रुक्तुशुश्चापरे गजा:,राजन! दूसरे अनेक गजराज भयंकर गर्जना करते हुए सिंहके समान दहाड़ रहे थे और दूसरे बहुतेरे हाथी इधर-उधर चक्कर काटते और चीखते-चिल्लाते थे
dvitīyā bahavaḥ hastino bāṇair vyathitā vraṇaiś ca pīḍitāḥ palāyanta, kecid asmin mahāsamare ubhābhyāṃ dantābhyāṃ kumbhasthalaiś ca bhūmau nyasya nipetuḥ. vineduḥ siṃhavad anye nadanto bhairavān ravān; bhramur bahavo rājan, śruktūś ca apare gajāḥ.
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଅନ୍ୟ ଅନେକ ହାତୀ ବାଣରେ ବ୍ୟଥିତ ଓ ଘାଉରେ ପୀଡିତ ହୋଇ ଭୟରେ ପଳାଇଗଲେ; ଆଉ କେତେକ ସେଇ ମହାସମରରେ ଦୁଇ ଦାନ୍ତ ଓ କୁମ୍ଭସ୍ଥଳ ଭୂମିରେ ଟେକି ଧରାଶାୟୀ ହେଲେ। କେହି ସିଂହ ପରି ଗର୍ଜନ କରି ଭୟଙ୍କର ଧ୍ୱନି କଲେ; ଅନେକ, ହେ ରାଜନ, ମୋହିତ ହୋଇ ଏଦିକ-ସେଦିକ ଘୁରୁଥିଲେ, ଆଉ କେହି ଚିତ୍କାର କରି ଶୁଣ୍ଡରେ ନାଦ କରୁଥିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the collateral suffering caused by war: even powerful creatures like war-elephants are broken by pain and fear. It implicitly critiques the dehumanizing (and de-animalizing) force of violence, reminding the listener that martial glory is inseparable from widespread anguish.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that many elephants, pierced by arrows and wounded, flee the battlefield; some collapse after bracing their tusks and temple-globes on the ground. Others roar like lions, while many stagger about in confusion and cry out loudly amid the tumult.