Shloka 18
अध्याय ९१ — शैनेयस्य गजानीकभेदनं जलसंधवधश्च
Chapter 91: Sātyaki breaks the elephant array and slays Jalasaṃdha
सबाणवर्माभरणा: सगदा: साड्भदा रणे | महाभुजगसंकाशा बाहव: परिघोपमा:,अर्जुनके श्रेष्ठ बाणोंसे कटी हुई वीरोंकी परिघके समान मोटी और महान् सर्पके समान दिखायी देनेवाली भिन्दिपाल, प्रास, शक्ति, ऋष्टि, फरसे, निर्व्यूह, खड्ग, धनुष, तोमर, बाण, कवच, आभूषण, गदा और भुजबंद आदिसे युक्त भुजाएँ आवेशमें भरकर अपना महान् वेग प्रकट करती, ऊपरको उछलती, छटपटाती और सब प्रकारकी चेष्टाएँ करती थीं
sa-bāṇa-varmābharaṇāḥ sa-gadāḥ sa-ḍhvadā raṇe | mahā-bhujaga-saṅkāśā bāhavaḥ parighopamāḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—तस्मिन् रणाङ्गणे पार्थस्य श्रेष्ठैः शरैर्निकृत्ताः केचिद् बाहवो ददृशिरे—बाणवर्माभरणोपेताः, केचिद् गदाध्वजधारिणः। ते परिघोपमा घनाः, महाभुजगसंकाशाश्च, महावेगेनोत्पतन्तो विक्षिपन्तः, छटपटन्तो नानाविधाः चेष्टाः कुर्वन्तो ददृश्यिरे; भिन्दिपाल-प्रास-शक्ति-ऋष्टि-परशु-निर्व्यूह-खड्ग-धनुस्तॊमर-शर-कवचाभरण-गदा-भुजबन्दादिभिः समलङ्कृताः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim reality of warfare: martial glory and bodily strength are fragile, and even the mighty are reduced to suffering. It implicitly warns that dharma pursued through battle carries heavy human cost, demanding sobriety and ethical reflection rather than triumphalism.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield aftermath where warriors’ arms—still adorned with armour and ornaments and sometimes holding weapons—have been cut off by Arjuna’s excellent arrows. These severed arms are compared to heavy iron clubs and great serpents as they jerk, writhe, and leap due to residual force.