Shloka 23
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system
बभज्ज च सहस्राणि दश राज्ञां महात्मनाम् | सृजतामशिवा वाच: खड्गकार्मुकधारिणाम्,इसके बाद अशुभ वचन बोलनेवाले तथा खड्ग एवं धनुष धारण करनेवाले दस हजार महामनस्वी राजाओंका भी उसने संहार कर डाला
babhajja ca sahasrāṇi daśa rājñāṁ mahātmanām | sṛjatām aśivā vācaḥ khaḍga-kārmuka-dhāriṇām ||
सञ्जय उवाच—दश राज्ञां महात्मनां सहस्राणि बभञ्ज ह। खड्गकार्मुकधारिणाम्, अशिवा वाचः सृजताम्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of war: armed aggression joined with cruel, ill-omened speech leads to catastrophic destruction. It implicitly warns that inner hostility (expressed as aśivā vācaḥ) and outward violence reinforce each other, accelerating adharma and its consequences.
Sañjaya reports that a powerful warrior (implied by context) overwhelms the battlefield, crushing even a vast contingent—ten thousand noble kings—who are armed with swords and bows and are shouting harsh, inauspicious words as they fight.