Shloka 23
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
पादातैराहता नागा विवरेषु समन्ततः । चक्कुरार्तस्वरं घोरें दुद्र॒ुवुश्ष दिशो दश,प्रहारका अवसर मिलनेपर पैदल सैनिक भी चारों ओरसे हाथियोंको गहरी चोट पहुँचाते और वे घोर आर्तनाद करते हुए सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंकी ओर भाग जाते थे
pādātair āhatā nāgā vivareṣu samantataḥ | cakrur ārta-svaraṁ ghoraṁ dudruvuś ca diśo daśa ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Nang tamaan ng mga kawal na naglalakad mula sa bawat panig—lalo na sa mga siwang na mahina—ang mga elepante ay umatungal sa nakapanghihilakbot na sigaw ng sakit at nagsitakas sa sampung panig. Ipinakikita ng tanawing ito na sa kaguluhan ng digmaan, kahit ang pinakamalalakas ay bumabagsak kapag natamaan ang kanilang kahinaan, at ang pagdurusa’y kumakalat nang walang pinipili sa larangan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: strength is undone when vulnerabilities are targeted, and the consequences—fear, pain, and disorder—affect all beings, not only the principal warriors. It implicitly cautions against glorifying battle by foregrounding suffering and panic.
During the fighting, infantrymen find openings and strike the elephants from all sides. The elephants, overwhelmed and wounded, emit terrible cries of distress and scatter, fleeing in every direction across the battlefield.