Shloka 106
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
यथेन्द्रस्य महाराज महत्या दैत्यसेनया । महाराज! उस समय एक-दूसरोंको मार डालनेकी इच्छा रखकर सब योद्धा अपने और परायेकी पहचान नहीं कर पाते थे। शत्रुओंके साथ भीमसेनका वह युद्ध सहसा उसी प्रकार अत्यन्त भयंकर हो चला
yathendrasya mahārāja mahatyā daityasenayā | tataḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmaḥ śrutvā taṃ ninadaṃ raṇe | abhyayāt tvarito bhīmaṃ vyūḍhānīkaḥ samantataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O dakilang hari, noon ang lahat ng mandirigma, sa pagnanasang magpatayan, ay hindi na makakilala kung sino ang kakampi at sino ang kaaway. Ang pakikipaglaban ni Bhīmasena sa mga kalaban ay biglang naging lubhang kakila-kilabot, gaya ng pakikidigma ni Indra, hari ng mga deva, laban sa napakalaking hukbo ng mga Dānava. Nang marinig ni Bhīṣma, anak ni Śāntanu, ang kaguluhang iyon sa larangan, agad siyang sumugod patungo kay Bhīma, matapos ihanay ang kanyang hukbo sa mga pormasyon sa lahat ng panig.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of kṣatriya leadership in war: when violence swells into chaos, commanders respond by restoring order through disciplined formation (vyūha) and direct engagement, aiming to contain the battlefield’s disorder rather than let it become indiscriminate slaughter.
The fighting grows extremely fierce—likened to Indra battling a huge demon host. Hearing the battlefield’s roar, Bhīṣma quickly advances toward Bhīma, surrounding the area with his troops arranged in a coordinated battle formation.