Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 34
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
प्राद्रवन् कुज्जरास्ते तु भीमसेनगदाहता: । पेतुरार्तस्वरं कृत्वा छिन्नपक्षा इवाद्रय:,भीमसेनकी गदासे घायल हो वे हाथी भाग चले और आर्तनाद करके पंख कटे हुए पर्वतोंके समान पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
prādravan kuñjarās te tu bhīmasena-gadāhatāḥ | petur ārta-svaraṃ kṛtvā chinna-pakṣā ivādrayaḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: Những con voi ấy, bị chùy của Bhīmasena đánh trúng, hoảng hốt bỏ chạy; rồi kêu gào thảm thiết và đổ sập xuống đất như những ngọn núi bị chặt mất đôi cánh.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the brutal reality of war: physical might and grandeur (symbolized by elephants and mountains) can be shattered instantly. It invites reflection on the ethical cost of battle and the fragility of worldly power when driven by rage and weapon-force.
Sañjaya describes elephants on the battlefield being struck by Bhīma’s mace. Terrified and wounded, they run, cry out in pain, and then collapse, compared through a vivid simile to wingless mountains falling.