Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
स पीड्यमानस्तैनगिर्वेदनार्त: शराहतः । अनदत् सुमहानादमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनम्
sa pīḍyamānas tainagir vedanārtaḥ śarāhataḥ | anadat sumahānādam indrāśani-samasvanam ||
Санджая сказал: Терзаемый теми слонами и уже тяжко израненный стрелами, он в мучительной боли издал могучий рёв, подобный грому ваджры Индры.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the stark reality of war: physical power and status do not prevent suffering. Ethically, it points to how collective aggression and unchecked violence amplify pain, inviting reflection on restraint and the human cost of conflict.
A warrior (contextually associated with the elephant-force described in the surrounding passage) is being harried by elephants while already pierced by arrows. Overwhelmed by pain, he emits a massive cry likened to the thunderous sound of Indra’s vajra.