Shloka 50
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
सम्मर्दयान: स्वबल वायुर्वृक्षानिवौजसा । जैसे वायु अपनी शक्तिसे वृक्षोंको उखाड़ फेंकती है, उसी प्रकार वह हाथी भयानक स्वरमें चिग्धाड़ता और अपनी ही सेनाको रौंदता हुआ बड़े वेगसे भाग चला ।।
saṃmardayānaḥ svabala-vāyur vṛkṣān ivaujasā | tasmin parājite nāge pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: “Giẫm nát cả quân mình, con voi ấy—như cơn cuồng phong nhổ bật cây cối bằng sức mạnh—lao đi với tốc độ dữ dội, gầm rống ghê rợn. Khi con voi ấy đã bị đánh bật, các đại chiến xa của phe Pāṇḍava liền thừa thế ép tới trong trận chiến.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how uncontrolled fear and brute force can turn destructive even to one’s own side: in war, panic can cause self-inflicted harm, and a single rout can shift the balance, inviting the disciplined warriors to press their advantage.
An elephant, overwhelmed and defeated, bolts in terror—roaring and trampling its own ranks—likened to a powerful wind uprooting trees. Seeing the elephant routed, the Pāṇḍava great warriors move to capitalize on the enemy’s disarray.