Shloka 84

विप्रजग्मुरनीकेषु मेघा वातहता इव । मृद्नन्तः स्वान्यनीकानि विनदन्त: शरातुरा:,उस रणभूमिमें पाण्डुनन्दन भीमके द्वारा सवारोंके मार दिये जानेपर बहुत-से मतवाले हाथी वायुके थपेड़े खाये हुए बादलोंके समान कौरव-सेनामें इधर-उधर भागने तथा अपने ही सैनिकोंको कुचलते हुए बाणोंकी व्यथासे व्याकुल हो चीत्कार करने लगे

viprajagmur anīkeṣu meghā vātahatā iva | mṛdnantaḥ svāny anīkāni vinadantaḥ śarāturāḥ ||

سنجے نے کہا—جب پاندو نندن بھیم نے سواروں کو قتل کر دیا تو بہت سے مست ہاتھی ہوا سے دھکے کھائے بادلوں کی طرح جنگی صفوں میں گھس کر پراگندہ ہو گئے۔ وہ اپنی ہی صفوں کو روندتے اور تیروں کے درد سے بے قرار ہو کر فریاد کرنے لگے۔

विप्रजग्मुःthey fled/went away
विप्रजग्मुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि-प्र-गम् (गम्)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
अनीकेषुamong the battle-formations/armies
अनीकेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअनीक
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
मेघाःclouds
मेघाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमेघ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वातहताःstruck/driven by the wind
वातहताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootवात-हत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
इवlike/as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
मृद्नन्तःcrushing/trampling
मृद्नन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootमृद्
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
स्वानिtheir own
स्वानि:
TypeAdjective
Rootस्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अनीकानिbattle-formations/units
अनीकानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअनीक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
विनदन्तःcrying out/roaring
विनदन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि-नद्
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
शरातुराःdistressed by arrows
शरातुराः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशर-आतुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīma
P
Pāṇḍu
E
elephants
M
mounted warriors (cavalry/riders)
K
Kaurava army
B
battlefield
A
arrows
B
battle formations (anīka)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a recurring ethical insight of the epic: violence unleashes forces that easily become uncontrollable. Power without restraint and coordination can rebound upon one’s own people, turning strength (war-elephants) into self-inflicted disaster.

After Bhīma kills many mounted fighters, the Kaurava war-elephants—wounded by arrows and maddened—lose control, scatter through the formations, trample their own troops, and cry out in pain, creating panic and disorder in the Kaurava ranks.