Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)
विकर्षन्तो दिश: सर्वा: सम्पेतु: सर्वशब्दगा: । प्रत्येक शब्दकी ओर गमन करनेवाले कितने ही हाथी घोड़ोंसहित रथोंकी अपनी सूँड्रोंसे खींचकर उन्हें लिये-दिये सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें दौड़ रहे थे
vikarṣanto diśaḥ sarvāḥ sampetuḥ sarvaśabdagāḥ | pratyekaśabdakī ora gamana karanevāle kitane hī hastī ghoṛoṃsahitā rathōṃkī apanī sūṇḍroṃse khīṃcakara unheṃ liye-diye sampūrṇa diśāoṃmeṃ dauṛa rahe the
三阇耶禀告:战场喧嚣向四方蔓延。被每一声呼喊、每一次撞击所牵引,许多战象——连同战马——用长鼻攫住战车,拖拽搬挪,奔突于全场诸方。此景传达战争的道德混乱:暴力一旦放出,纵是训练有素的军阵也会被声响、恐惧与冲动牵着走,秩序遂让位于不分青红皂白的毁灭。
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores how war dissolves control and discernment: forces are driven by the din of conflict, leading to uncontrolled harm. Ethically, it hints at the tragic momentum of violence—once begun, it spreads beyond intention and discipline.
Sanjaya describes the battlefield confusion where elephants, reacting to cries and clashes from different directions, seize and drag chariots (with horses) using their trunks and rush about, intensifying the disorder and destruction.