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Shloka 43

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

स चचार बहून्‌ मार्गनभित: पातयन्‌ गजान्‌ | अग्निचक्रमिवाविद्ध सर्वतः प्रत्यदृश्यत,फिर दोनों ओर घूम-घूमकर हाथियोंको गिराते हुए वे अनेक मार्गोसे विचरण करने लगे। उस समय घूमते हुए अलातचक्रकी भाँति वे सब ओर दिखायी देते थे

sa cacāra bahūn mārgān abhitaḥ pātayan gajān | agnicakram ivāviddhaḥ sarvataḥ pratyadṛśyata ||

แล้วเขาก็เคลื่อนผ่านหลายแนวทาง วนเวียนไปทั่ว พลางโค่นช้างลงไม่หยุด ในยามนั้นเขาปรากฏรอบด้านดุจวงล้อเพลิงที่หมุนกราด

सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चचारmoved/wandered
चचार:
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
बहून्many
बहून्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
मार्गान्paths/ways
मार्गान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमार्ग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अभितःaround/on all sides
अभितः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअभितः
पातयन्causing to fall, felling
पातयन्:
TypeVerb
Rootपत् (caus. पातयति)
FormŚatṛ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
गजान्elephants
गजान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अग्नि-चक्रम्a wheel of fire (firebrand-circle)
अग्नि-चक्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअग्निचक्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
आविद्धःwhirled/spun
आविद्धः:
TypeVerb
Rootव्यध् (ppp आविद्ध)
FormKta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वतःfrom all sides/everywhere
सर्वतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः
प्रत्यदृश्यतwas seen/appeared
प्रत्यदृश्यत:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (pass. दृश्यते)
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada (passive sense)

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
E
elephants (gaja)
F
fiery wheel / firebrand-wheel simile (agnicakra / alātacakra)

Educational Q&A

The verse primarily heightens the moral and emotional tension of war by portraying how overwhelming force can dominate the battlefield; it invites reflection on the terrifying momentum of violence and the human cost hidden behind heroic spectacle.

Sañjaya describes a warrior moving rapidly through multiple lanes of the battlefield, striking down elephants; his swift, circling movement makes him seem visible in every direction, like a spinning wheel of fire.