कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
सप्तसप्त च नागांस्तान् वैजयन्तीश्व॒ सध्वजा: । निहत्य निशितैर्बाणैश्छिन्ना: पार्थाग्रजेन ते
sapta-sapta ca nāgāṁs tān vaijayantīś ca dhvajāḥ | nihatya niśitair bāṇaiś chinnāḥ pārthāgrajena te |
三阇耶说道:帕尔塔(阿周那)的长兄毗摩塞那以锐利之箭射倒那些大象——七七之数,共四十九头——并斩断它们的胜幢(vaijayantī)旗帜与旌旗。旗幡既断,群象战场倾覆,毗摩之威势遂压倒敌军自矜的标志。
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: decisive action against formidable forces, and the symbolic breaking of the enemy’s pride by cutting down their victory-banners. It underscores how martial excellence is portrayed as duty-bound strength within the epic’s war ethic.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīmasena—identified as Arjuna’s elder brother—uses sharp arrows to bring down forty-nine war-elephants and to sever their vaijayantī banners and standards, indicating a major tactical and morale-shattering feat.