Shloka 122

निकृत्तयन्त्रा निहतेन्द्रकीला ध्वजा महान्तो ध्वजिनीमुखेषु । पदातिसड्घाश्न रथाश्न संख्ये हयाश्न नागाश्व धनंजयेन,युद्धके मुहानेपर जिनके यन्त्र कट गये और इन्द्रकील नष्ट हो गये थे, ऐसे बड़े-बड़े ध्वज छिन्न-भिन्न होकर गिरने लगे। उस संग्राममें अर्जुनके बाणोंसे घायल पैदलोंके समूह, रथी, घोड़े और हाथी शीघ्र ही सत्त्वशून्य होकर अपने अंगोंको पकड़े हुए पृथ्वीपर गिरने लगे। राजन्‌! उस महान ऐन्द्रास्त्रसे समरभूमिमें सभी सैनिकोंके शरीर और कवच छिज्न- भिन्न हो गये

nikṛttayantrā nihatendrākīlā dhvajā mahānto dhvajinīmukheṣu | padātisaṅghāś ca rathāś ca saṅkhye hayāś ca nāgāś ca dhanañjayena ||

ณ แนวหน้ากองทัพ ธงใหญ่ทั้งหลายซึ่งเชือกกลไกถูกตัดและเดือยยึดกลาง (อินทรกีละ) ถูกทำลาย ก็ฉีกขาดร่วงหล่น ในศึกนั้นด้วยลูกศรของธนัญชัย หมู่ทหารราบ นักรบรถศึก ม้า และช้าง ถูกโจมตีอย่างรวดเร็ว บาดเจ็บจนสิ้นเรี่ยวแรง แล้วล้มลงสู่พื้นดิน

निकृत्त-यन्त्राःhaving their mechanisms cut off
निकृत्त-यन्त्राः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिकृत्त (कृदन्त, √कृत्) + यन्त्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
निहत-इन्द्रकीलाःwith the indrakīla (axle-pin/linchpin) destroyed
निहत-इन्द्रकीलाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिहत (कृदन्त, √हन्) + इन्द्रकील
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ध्वजाःstandards, banners
ध्वजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootध्वज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
महान्तःgreat, huge
महान्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ध्वजिनी-मुखेषुat the fronts of the armies
ध्वजिनी-मुखेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootध्वजिनी + मुख
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
पदाति-सङ्घाःmasses of foot-soldiers
पदाति-सङ्घाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपदाति + सङ्घ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथाःchariots (chariot-warriors)
रथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सङ्ख्येin battle
सङ्ख्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसङ्ख्य
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
हयाःhorses
हयाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नागाःelephants
नागाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धनञ्जयेनby Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनञ्जयेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधनञ्जय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
D
dhvaja (war-banners/standards)
D
dhvajinī (armies)
P
padāti (infantry)
R
rathāḥ (chariots/chariot-warriors)
H
hayāḥ (horses)
N
nāgāḥ (elephants)
I
indrākīla (central fastening-pin)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the overwhelming, almost impersonal force of warfare—especially when empowered by superior weapons—where external protections (armor, standards, formations) quickly fail. Ethically, it points to the heavy responsibility of kṣatriya action: martial excellence brings victory, yet it also multiplies suffering, reminding the listener that power in war carries grave moral weight.

Sañjaya describes Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) devastating the opposing forces: banners in the vanguard collapse as their fastenings are severed, and infantry, chariot-fighters, horses, and elephants are struck by Arjuna’s arrows and fall on the battlefield.