Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 1226

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

महाव्यूह: कलिज्रानामेकेन मृदितस्त्वया । “आपने अकेले अपनी ही भुजाओंके बल और पराक्रमसे कलिंगोंके उस महान्‌ व्यूहको रौंदकर मिट्टीमें मिला दिया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | mahāvyūhaḥ kaliṅgānām ekena mṛditas tvayā |

Translation

三阇耶说道：“唯你一人，凭自身臂力与英勇，便将羯陵伽人的宏大战阵踏碎碾平。那密如铁壁的阵列，充塞着象、马与战车，被你击破，化为废墟。其中多有被世间称为杰出之士者；无数沉毅的英雄战士也曾依托那伟大阵势。”

Word by Word

• महाव्यूहः: the great battle-formation
• महाव्यूहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाव्यूह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कलिङ्गानाम्: of the Kalingas
• कलिङ्गानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• एकेन: by one (alone)
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मृदितः: crushed, trampled down
• मृदितः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृद्
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, passive/resultative

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kaliṅga (Kalingas)
• mahāvyūha (great battle-formation)
• elephants
• horses
• chariots

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the epic ideal of kṣatriya valor and battlefield competence: a single warrior’s disciplined strength and courage can overturn even a formidable, well-equipped formation. Ethically, it frames martial prowess as a duty-bound excellence within the war narrative, emphasizing resolve and capability rather than cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that one warrior (addressed as “you”) has single-handedly shattered the Kalingas’ massive battle-array, despite it being filled with elephants, horses, and chariots and defended by many renowned, steadfast fighters.