Shloka 49
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
ततः सुबलपुत्रस्य नागानतिबलान् पुनः । पोथयामास कौन्तेयो द्विपज्चाशदरिंदम:,तत्पश्चात् शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले कुन्तीकुमार भीमने सुबलपुत्र शकुनिके अत्यन्त बलवान् बावन हाथियोंको मार गिराया
tataḥ subalaputrasya nāgān atibalān punaḥ | pothayāmāsa kaunteyo dvipapañcāśad arindamaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：随后，昆蒂之子——降伏仇敌的毗摩——又一次碾碎并击倒了苏婆罗之子沙昆尼麾下五十二头极其强悍的战象。此景昭示战争残酷的“算术”：武勇以摧毁可怖的战争资产来彰显，而屠戮的道德重负却仍沉沉压在战场之上。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim reality of dharma in wartime: a warrior’s duty (kṣatriya-dharma) can demand decisive force against enemy formations, yet the narrative also invites reflection on the moral burden of mass killing and the dehumanizing calculus of victory.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, famed as an enemy-subduer, again attacks and crushes a contingent of Śakuni’s powerful war-elephants, felling fifty-two of them in the ongoing battle.