Shloka 14
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
बलानि सम्ममर्दाशु नड्वलानीव कुञज्जर: । पाण्डुनन्दन भीम अपने महान् वेगसे रथसमूहोंको खींचकर नष्ट कर देते और शीघ्र ही सारी सेनाको उसी प्रकार रौंद डालते थे, जैसे हाथी नरकुलके पौधोंको ।।
sañjaya uvāca | balāni sammamardāśu naḍvalānīva kuñjaraḥ | pāṇḍunandano bhīmaḥ svamahān vegena rathasamūhān ākarṣya nāśayām āsa, śīghraṃ ca sarvāṃ senām evaṃ mardayām āsa, yathā kuñjaraḥ narakulaprasthān | mṛdnan rathebhyo rathino gajebhyo gajayodhinaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Gaya ng elepanteng mabilis na dumudurog sa mga sukal ng tambo, si Bhīma—anak ni Pāṇḍu—sa kanyang napakalaking bilis ay humila at lumipol ng mga pulutong ng karwahe. Sa di-kalaunan ay niyurakan niya ang buong hukbo, gaya ng elepanteng dumudurog sa mga taniman ng tubo. Dinurog niya ang mga mandirigmang nasa karwahe mula sa kanilang mga karwahe, at ang mga mandirigmang nasa elepante mula sa kanilang mga elepante.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily narrative rather than didactic: it highlights the overwhelming force of a warrior in battle and the terrifying, impersonal momentum of war. Ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—kṣatriya-duty compels combat, yet the imagery (crushing living beings like reeds) reminds the listener of war’s dehumanizing destructiveness.
Sañjaya reports Bhīma’s onslaught: Bhīma rushes with immense speed, drags and smashes groups of chariots, and tramples the enemy host. The simile compares his action to an elephant crushing reed-beds; an added line states he also crushes chariot-fighters off their chariots and elephant-fighters off their elephants.