Shloka 19
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
हयारोहाश्व बहव: परिवार्य गजोत्तमान् | तलशब्दरवांश्वक्रु: सम्पतन्तस्ततस्तत:
sañjaya uvāca | hayārohāś ca bahavaḥ parivārya gajottamān | tālaśabdaravāṁś cakruḥ sampatantas tatas tataḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Maraming mangangabayo ang pumalibot sa pinakamahuhusay na elepante, nagmamadaling pabalik-balik habang malalakas na pumapalakpak at lumilikha ng kaguluhan. Sa pagkagulat sa ingay, ang malalaking elepante ay nagsitakbo at nagkawatak-watak; saka sila tinamaan ng mga palaso ng mga mangangabayo mula sa tagiliran at mula sa likuran—larawan ng digmaang may kalkuladong kalupitan, kung saan ang ingay, sindak, at paghabol ay ginagamit upang wasakin maging ang pinakamakapangyarihang hanay.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare often relies not only on strength but on manipulation of fear and confusion—using noise and encirclement to panic powerful animals and then exploit their vulnerability. It implicitly contrasts strategic success with the ethical harshness of such methods.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield tactic: horsemen surround elite war-elephants, create a loud uproar by clapping and shouting, causing the elephants to bolt; as they flee or turn, the riders attack them from the sides and rear with arrows.