Shloka 23
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
पादातैराहता नागा विवरेषु समन्ततः । चक्कुरार्तस्वरं घोरें दुद्र॒ुवुश्ष दिशो दश
pādātair āhatā nāgā vivareṣu samantataḥ | cakrur ārta-svaraṁ ghoraṁ dudruvuś ca diśo daśa ||
Sañjaya disse: Atingidos pelos soldados de infantaria por todos os lados—sobretudo nas brechas vulneráveis—os elefantes, soltando um bramido terrível de dor, fugiram para as dez direções. A cena mostra como, no caos da guerra, até as forças mais poderosas desabam quando seus pontos fracos são explorados, e como o sofrimento se espalha indiscriminadamente pelo campo de batalha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: strength is undone when vulnerabilities are targeted, and the consequences—fear, pain, and disorder—affect all beings, not only the principal warriors. It implicitly cautions against glorifying battle by foregrounding suffering and panic.
During the fighting, infantrymen find openings and strike the elephants from all sides. The elephants, overwhelmed and wounded, emit terrible cries of distress and scatter, fleeing in every direction across the battlefield.