Shloka 20
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
धावमानांस्ततस्तांस्तु द्रवमाणान् महागजान् । पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैव निजघ्नु्हयसादिन:,बहुत-से घुड़सवार उत्तम गजराजोंको चारों ओरसे घेरकर इधर-उधर दौड़ने और ताली पीटने लगे। इससे जब वे विशालकाय हाथी दौड़ने और भागने लगते, तब वे घुड़सवार अगल-बगलसे और पीछेकी ओरसे उनपर बाणोंकी चोट करते थे
dhāvamānāṁs tatastāṁs tu dravamāṇān mahāgajān | pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataś caiva nijaghnur hayasādinaḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: Então os cavaleiros abateram aqueles grandes elefantes que corriam em confusão e fugiam, atacando-os pelos flancos e por trás. A cena ressalta as táticas implacáveis da batalha, em que o pânico das feras de guerra é explorado para quebrar a força de um exército, sem consideração pelo sofrimento infligido.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a grim ethical tension in epic warfare: tactical success often comes from exploiting fear and disorder rather than meeting strength with strength. It invites reflection on how war normalizes cruelty and turns living beings—especially animals like elephants—into instruments and victims of strategy.
As the great war-elephants begin to run and scatter, mounted horsemen press the advantage by attacking them from the sides and from behind, intensifying the rout and weakening the opposing formation.