Shloka 44
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 ||
Disse Sañjaya: Dominando as fileiras de cavalos e elefantes, e irrompendo nas formações de carros e nas massas de infantaria, ele os abateu sem cessar—com o corpo encharcado de sangue. O verso ressalta o peso moral do dever no campo de batalha: a bravura e a eficácia aparecem, mas a cena está saturada do custo da violência.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.