Shloka 143
शिर: प्रध्वंसयामास वक्षस्याक्रम्प कुज्जर: । आर्य! उस युद्धमें कितने मनुष्य बाणोंसे विदीर्ण होकर रथसे नीचे गिर जाते थे। कितने ही योद्धा कवचशून्य हो धरतीपर गिर पड़ते थे और सहसा कोई हाथी उनकी छातीपर पैर रखकर उनके मस्तकको भी कुचल देता था
śiraḥ pradhvaṃsayāmāsa vakṣasy ākramya kuñjaraḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—तस्मिन् संग्रामे बहवो नराः शरैर्विदीर्णा रथात् पतन्ति स्म। बहवश्च कवचविहीना भूमौ निपेतुः; सहसा च कश्चिद् गजः तेषां वक्षसि पादं निधाय शिरोऽपि प्रध्वंसयामास।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the brutal, indiscriminate nature of war: once a warrior is wounded and deprived of protection, destruction can come swiftly and mercilessly. Ethically, it serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the fragility of life amid kṣatriya warfare.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield where warriors, pierced by arrows, fall from their chariots; others fall without armour, and elephants then trample their chests and crush their heads, intensifying the horror and chaos of the fighting.