Shloka 83
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
पश्य नीलाम्बुदनिभान् महामात्रैरधिष्ठितान् । शक्तितोमरसंघातैर्विनिध्नन्तं वृकोदरम्,“इस निषादपुत्रका वध करके वे पुनः प्रहार करनेवाले दूसरे-दूसरे हाथियोंपर आक्रमण कर रहे हैं। देखो, भीमसेन शक्ति और तोमरोंके समूहोंसे काले मेघोंकी घटाके समान हाथियोंको, जिनके कंधोंपर महावत बैठे हैं, मार रहे हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
paśya nīlāmbudanibhān mahāmātrair adhiṣṭhitān |
śaktitomarasaṃghātair vinihnantaṃ vṛkodaram |
Sañjaya disse: “Vede Bhīma—Vṛkodara—derrubando, com saraivadas de lanças e tomara, aqueles elefantes que se assemelham a nuvens negras de chuva, cada qual dirigido por seu mahout sentado sobre os ombros. No aperto implacável da batalha, ele atravessa sucessivas montarias e seus condutores, transformando os baluartes vivos do inimigo em massas que desabam.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of kṣatriya warfare: even mighty war-elephants—symbols of royal power—are subject to destruction when opposed by determined valor. It implicitly highlights the ethical weight of battle, where duty-driven heroism operates amid severe violence and loss.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma (Vṛkodara) on the battlefield felling enemy elephants that look like dark clouds, along with their mounted drivers, using volleys of spears and tomara-javelins.