Shloka 38

संनिपाते बलौघानां प्रेषितैर्वरवारणै: । निपेतुर्युधि सम्भग्ना: सयोधा: सध्वजा गजा:,सैन्यसमूहोंके उस भीषण संघर्षमें आगे बढ़ाये हुए बड़े-बड़े हाथियोंसे टकराकर युद्धमें कितने ही छोटे-छोटे हाथी अंग-भंग हो जानेके कारण सवारों और ध्वजोंसहित गिर जाते थे

sannipāte balaughānāṁ preṣitair varavāraṇaiḥ | nipetur yudhi sambhagnāḥ sayodhāḥ sadhvajā gajāḥ ||

Wika ni Sañjaya: Sa siksik na banggaan ng nagkakumpol na mga hukbo, nang itulak pasulong ang malalaking elepante sa unahan, maraming mas maliliit na elepante ang nadurog at napinsala sa labanan at bumagsak sa lupa—kasama ang kanilang mga sakay at mga watawat.

संनिपातेin the clash/encounter
संनिपाते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसंनिपात
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
बलौघानाम्of the masses of forces
बलौघानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootबल-ओघ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
प्रेषितैःdriven/urged forward
प्रेषितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रेषित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
वरexcellent, great
वर:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वारणैःby elephants
वारणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवारण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
निपेतुःfell down
निपेतुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपत्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural
युधिin battle
युधि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुध्
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
सम्भग्नाःbroken, shattered
सम्भग्नाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्भग्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सयोधाःwith riders/warriors
सयोधाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस-योध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सध्वजाःwith banners/standards
सध्वजाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस-ध्वज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गजाःelephants
गजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
W
war-elephants (gaja, vāraṇa)
R
riders/warriors (yodha)
B
banners/standards (dhvaja)
A
armies/hosts (balaugha)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the brutal, indiscriminate nature of war: power and prestige (great elephants, banners) do not prevent destruction, and many lives are crushed in the collective momentum of battle. It implicitly cautions against glorifying warfare by showing its human and animal cost.

Sañjaya describes a fierce clash where large, forward-driven war-elephants collide with smaller elephants; many are crippled and fall in the fighting, bringing down their riders and standards as well.