Shloka 20
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
धावमानांस्ततस्तांस्तु द्रवमाणान् महागजान् । पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैव निजघ्नु्हयसादिन:
dhāvamānāṁs tatastāṁs tu dravamāṇān mahāgajān | pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataś caiva nijaghnur hayasādinaḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Pagkaraan, pinabagsak ng mga mangangabayo ang malalaking elepante na nagtatakbong litó at tumatakas—inaatake mula sa tagiliran at mula sa likuran. Ipinakikita ng tanawing ito ang walang-awang taktika ng digmaan: sinasamantala ang sindak ng mga hayop-pandigma upang baliin ang lakas ng hukbo, gaano man kalaki ang pagdurusang idinudulot.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a grim ethical tension in epic warfare: tactical success often comes from exploiting fear and disorder rather than meeting strength with strength. It invites reflection on how war normalizes cruelty and turns living beings—especially animals like elephants—into instruments and victims of strategy.
As the great war-elephants begin to run and scatter, mounted horsemen press the advantage by attacking them from the sides and from behind, intensifying the rout and weakening the opposing formation.