Shloka 38
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तमभ्यधावद् द्विरदं भीमो भीमस्य नागराट् । महावातेरितं मेघं वातोद्धूत इवाम्बुद:
sañjaya uvāca |
tam abhyadhāvad dviradaṃ bhīmo bhīmasya nāgarāṭ |
mahāvāteritaṃ meghaṃ vātoddhūta ivāmbudaḥ ||
sā vadhyamānā samare kekayānāṃ mahācamūḥ |
tam utsṛjya raṇe śatruṃ pradudrāva diśo daśa ||
Wika ni Sanjaya: Ang maharlikang elepante ni Bhima ay sumugod at humabol sa elepanteng iyon, na wari’y ulap na itinutulak ng hangin na humahabol sa isa pang ulap na inihahagis pasulong ng malakas na unos. Samantala, ang napakalaking hukbo ng mga Kekaya, na pinapatay sa larangan, ay iniwan ang kaaway sa gitna ng labanan at nagkawatak-watak na tumakas sa sampung panig.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral-psychological truth of warfare: when fear and losses overwhelm discipline, even a large force collapses into disorder. Conversely, relentless pursuit intensifies panic. Implicitly, it points to the ethical weight of leadership—armies depend on steadiness and cohesion, and once these fail, destruction and flight follow.
Bhima’s powerful elephant rushes after an opposing elephant, compared to wind-driven clouds chasing one another. At the same time, the Kekaya troops, being heavily struck down in battle, abandon the fight and scatter in all directions.