Shloka 13
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Bhīṣma’s Theological Explanation of Pāṇḍava Invincibility
Book 6, Chapter 61
गजारोहा गजारोहान् नाराचशरतोमरै: । संसक्तान् पातयामासुस्तव तेषां च सर्वश:,आपके और पाण्डव-पक्षके हाथीसवार अपनेसे भिड़े हुए विपक्षी हाथीसवारोंको सब ओरसे नाराच, बाण और तोमरोंकी मारसे धराशायी कर देते थे
gajārohā gajārohān nārācaśaratomaraiḥ | saṃsaktān pātayāmāsus tava teṣāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||
Sañjaya thưa: “Kỵ tượng của bệ hạ và kỵ tượng phe Pāṇḍava, khi đã khóa chặt trong cận chiến, liền quật ngã kỵ tượng đối phương khắp bốn phía bằng những loạt nārāca, tên và lao tomara.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily serves battlefield narration, but it implicitly reflects kṣatriya-dharma: warriors, once engaged, press the fight with full force using appropriate weapons. It highlights the grim ethical tension of duty in war—valor and obligation expressed through decisive action against an armed opponent.
Elephant-mounted warriors from both Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side and the Pāṇḍavas, fighting at close quarters, strike down enemy elephant-riders from all directions using heavy iron missiles (nārācas), arrows, and spears (tomaras).