Shloka 39
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्
Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement
कुछ हाथी नाराचोंसे घायल किये गये थे, कितनोंके शरीरोंमें तोमर धँसे हुए थे और वे सब-के-सब घोर चीत्कार करते हुए इधर-उधर दौड़ रहे थे। उस समय वे शुंगहीन पर्वतोंके समान जान पड़ते थे ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
ke-cid hastino nārācair āhatāḥ, keṣāṃ-cid aṅgeṣu tomarāḥ praviṣṭāḥ; te sarve ghoram ākrandam kurvāṇā itas-tataḥ pradhāvantaḥ śuṅga-hīna-parvatā iva babhūvuḥ ||
ke-cit krodha-samāviṣṭā madāndhā niravagrahāḥ |
rathān hayān padātīṃś ca mamṛduḥ śataśo raṇe ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: May mga elepanteng tinamaan ng mga palasong bakal (nārāca); sa katawan ng iba, nakabaon ang mga sibat (tomara). Lahat sila’y sumisigaw nang nakapanghihilakbot at nagtatakbo sa iba’t ibang dako, na wari’y mga bundok na nawalan ng tuktok. At may ilang dambuhalang elepante, bulag sa pagkalasing ng musth (rut) at sinakmal ng poot, walang mapigil, na yumurak sa labanan ng daan-daang karwahe, kabayo, at mga kawal na naglalakad.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and intoxicated frenzy (krodha, mada) destroy self-control (avagraha). In war, once restraint collapses, power turns indiscriminate—crushing friend and foe alike—showing why dharma emphasizes mastery over passions even amid conflict.
Sañjaya reports battlefield chaos: elephants wounded by arrows and spears scream and run wildly; some, seized by rage and rut, become uncontrollable and trample large numbers of chariots, horses, and infantry.