Shloka 20
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
धावमानांस्ततस्तांस्तु द्रवमाणान् महागजान् । पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैव निजघ्नु्हयसादिन:
dhāvamānāṁs tatastāṁs tu dravamāṇān mahāgajān | pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataś caiva nijaghnur hayasādinaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：随后，骑兵趁那些大象惊乱奔走、溃逃之际，从两肋与后方夹击射杀。此景更显战阵之无情：借战兽之恐惧以折军势，全然不顾所加诸的痛苦。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a grim ethical tension in epic warfare: tactical success often comes from exploiting fear and disorder rather than meeting strength with strength. It invites reflection on how war normalizes cruelty and turns living beings—especially animals like elephants—into instruments and victims of strategy.
As the great war-elephants begin to run and scatter, mounted horsemen press the advantage by attacking them from the sides and from behind, intensifying the rout and weakening the opposing formation.