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Shloka 4

Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host

जैसे वर्षाकालके आकाशमें मेघोंकी गम्भीर गर्जना होती रहती है, उसी प्रकार रणभूमिमें दौड़ लगाते हुए भीमकाय गजराजोंका महान्‌ कोलाहल सुनायी देने लगा ।। नागैरभ्याहता: केचित्‌ सरथा रथिनो5पतन्‌ । व्यद्रवन्त रणे वीरा द्राव्यमाणा मदोत्कटै:,मदोन्मत्त हाथियोंके आघातसे कितने ही रथी रथसहित धरतीपर लोट गये। बहुत-से वीर उनसे खदेड़े जाकर इधर-उधर भागने लगे

yathā varṣākāle ākāśe meghānāṃ gambhīrā garjanā satataṃ bhavati, tathā raṇabhūmau dhāvantāṃ bhīmakāyānāṃ gajarājānāṃ mahān kolāhalaḥ śrūyate sma. nāgair abhyāhatāḥ kecit sarathā rathino ’patan; vyadravanta raṇe vīrā drāvyamāṇā madotkaṭaiḥ.

ดุจในฤดูฝนที่ท้องฟ้าเต็มไปด้วยเสียงคำรามทุ้มลึกของเมฆาไม่ขาดสาย ฉันใด ในสมรภูมิก็เกิดเสียงอึกทึกกึกก้องใหญ่จากเหล่ากชราชร่างมหึมาที่พุ่งพล่านฉันนั้น ถูกช้างที่กำเริบด้วยมันห์เข้ากระแทก นักรบรถศึกบางคนร่วงลงสู่พื้นพร้อมรถศึกของตน; และวีรชนจำนวนมากถูกไล่ต้อนจนแตกกระเจิง หนีไปคนละทิศละทางท่ามกลางการรบ

नागैःby elephants
नागैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अभ्याहताःstruck, smitten
अभ्याहताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootअभि-आ-हन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
केचित्some (persons)
केचित्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootक-चित्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सरथाःtogether with their chariots
सरथाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootस-रथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथिनःchariot-warriors
रथिनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अपतन्fell down
अपतन्:
TypeVerb
Rootपत्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural
व्यद्रवन्तran about, fled
व्यद्रवन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-द्रु
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
वीराःheroes, warriors
वीराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
द्राव्यमाणाःbeing driven away, being put to flight
द्राव्यमाणाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootद्रावय्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
मदोत्कटैःby those fierce with rut (musth)
मदोत्कटैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमद-उत्कट
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
R
raṇabhūmi (battlefield)
G
gajarāja (elephant-kings)
R
rathinaḥ (chariot-warriors)
R
ratha (chariots)
M
meghāḥ (clouds)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the overwhelming force of uncontrolled power in war: when strength (here, rut-maddened elephants) surges without restraint, even trained warriors lose formation and composure. Ethically, it highlights how battle amplifies fear and chaos, testing steadiness and discipline.

Sañjaya describes the battlefield soundscape and action: the roar of charging elephants is likened to monsoon thunder. Elephants strike chariots, causing some chariot-warriors to fall with their vehicles, while others are driven back and flee in confusion.