Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्राकम्पन्त च सैन्यानि वाहनानि च सर्वशः । भीमेन समरे राजन् गजेन्द्रेणेव सर्वश:
prākampanta ca sainyāni vāhanāni ca sarvaśaḥ | bhīmena samare rājan gajendreṇeva sarvaśaḥ ||
三阇耶说道:“大王啊,在那场战斗中,全军与其车乘坐骑四面八方都开始战栗,皆因惧怕毗摩——他如战场上的象王般纵横驰骋,忽东忽西地冲杀。每当他一次又一次腾跃猛进,迷惘与惊惶便笼罩了众人。”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the moral-psychological dimension of war: sheer force and fearless momentum can collapse an opposing army’s resolve even before physical defeat, showing how fear and confusion spread contagiously in conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma is rampaging across the battlefield like a mighty elephant; his aggressive movements make the enemy troops and their vehicles tremble, and repeated charges throw the field into bewilderment.