Shloka 16
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
मत्तो गज: पर्यवर्तद्धयांश्व॒ हतसादिन:
sañjaya uvāca | matto gajaḥ paryavartad dhayāṁś ca hatasādinaḥ, jighāṁsantaṁ yudhāṁ śreṣṭha tadā āsīt tumulaṁ mahat |
Wika ni Sañjaya: “O Hari, ang mga elepanteng nagngangalit sa siksikan ng labanan ay umikot-ikot, at ang mga kabayo—marami ang napatay na ang sakay—ay nagtakbuhang magulo. Nang sumugod ang mga mandirigma na may hangaring pabagsakin ang pinakadakila sa mga manlalaban, sumiklab ang isang napakalawak at nakapanghihilakbot na ugong ng digmaan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral gravity and uncontrollable momentum of war: once violence is unleashed, even disciplined forces (elephants, horses, chariots) fall into confusion, and the intent to kill becomes the driving force—highlighting the ethical cost of battle despite kṣatriya ideals.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the battlefield has become chaotic: maddened elephants wheel about, riderless or bereft-of-rider horses scatter, and warriors press forward with lethal intent against a foremost champion, causing a great tumult to erupt.