Shloka 59
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
गदया भीमसेनेन नाराचैरर्जुनेन च । तदनन्तर दो ही घड़ीमें भीमसेनने गदासे और अर्जुनने नाराचोंसे उस गज-सेनाका संहार कर डाला ।। अभिपिष्टमहानागै: समन्तात् पर्वतोपमै:
sañjaya uvāca | gadayā bhīmasenena nārācair arjunena ca | tadanantaraṃ hi ghaḍī-dvaye bhīmasenena gadayā arjunena ca nārācaiḥ sā gaja-senā saṃhṛtā || abhipiṣṭa-mahānāgaiḥ samantāt parvatopamaiḥ ||
Санджая сказал: Булавой — Бхимасена, а железными стрелами (нарача) — Арджуна; в следующий же краткий миг они полностью истребили тот слоновий корпус. Повсюду вокруг громадные слоны, подобные горам, были раздавлены и растоптаны, и ярость битвы вздымалась без удержу.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrifying efficiency of martial prowess when unleashed in war: even the mightiest formations (an elephant corps) can be swiftly annihilated. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—kṣatriya-duty compels combat, yet the narrative simultaneously exposes war’s crushing, dehumanizing force and the fragility of worldly power.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, wielding his mace, and Arjuna, shooting heavy iron arrows (nārācas), quickly destroy an enemy elephant contingent. The battlefield is depicted as filled on all sides with mountain-like elephants being crushed and trampled amid the onrush of combat.