Shloka 49
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
उपावृत्तमद: क्षिप्रमभ्यवर्तत वेगित: । भरतश्रेष्ठ! उन तोमरोंसे अत्यन्त घायल हो वह हाथी व्यथित हो उठा। उसका सारा मद उतर गया और वह बड़े वेगसे पीछेकी ओर लौट पड़ा || ४८ ई || स प्रदुद्राव वेगेन प्रणदन् भैरवं रवम्
sañjaya uvāca | upāvṛttamadaḥ kṣipram abhyavartata vegitaḥ | bharataśreṣṭha! un tomarair atyanta-ghāyalo sa hastī vyathito 'bhavat | tasya sarvo madaḥ apāgacchat, sa ca mahāvegena pṛṣṭhato nivavṛte || 48 || sa pradudrāva vegena praṇadan bhairavaṃ ravam || 49 ||
三阇耶说道：“噢，婆罗多族中最杰出者！那头战象——其狂醉的发情之势（madā）忽然消退——立刻仓促回转，疾速后撤。它被投枪（tomara）刺中，重创累累，痛楚使它浑身战栗；那股醉怒般的凶猛尽皆流散，于是它掉头飞退。随后，它又迅疾奔逃，发出骇人的长鸣。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a battlefield ethic of cause-and-effect: even great strength and fury (mada) collapse when met with decisive injury and pain. It highlights the fragility of pride and the immediate moral cost of violence—terror, suffering, and flight—within the dharmic frame of war narration.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that an elephant, badly wounded by tomara-spears, loses its musth and turns back. In pain and panic it retreats rapidly, fleeing while trumpeting a frightening cry.