Shloka 373
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
पाश्वें दशार्णाधिपतेर्भित्वा नागमपातयत् । प्राग्ज्योतिषनरेशके हाथीने लौटकर और पीछे हटकर दशार्णराजके हाथीके पार्श्वभागमें गहरा आघात किया और उसे विदीर्ण करके मार गिराया
pārśve daśārṇādhipater bhitvā nāgam apātayat | prāgjyotiṣanareśaḥ hastinā nivṛtya paścād apasṛtya daśārṇarājasya hastinaḥ pārśvabhāge gāḍham āghātaṃ kṛtvā taṃ vidīrya mārayām āsa |
सञ्जय उवाच—दशार्णाधिपतेर्द्विरदस्य पाश्वे प्रहारं कृत्वा स विदार्य तमपातयत्। प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपतिः स्वगजं परिवर्त्य पश्चादपसृत्य दशार्णराजगजस्य पार्श्वे गुरुमाहत्य विदार्य जघान।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the Mahābhārata’s war setting, martial skill and tactical maneuvering become decisive; it implicitly invites reflection on the ethical cost of warfare, where even mighty beings like war-elephants are destroyed as instruments of victory.
Sañjaya describes the Prāgjyotiṣa king maneuvering his elephant—turning and withdrawing—then striking the Daśārṇa king’s elephant on the flank with a powerful blow, splitting it and bringing it down dead.