Mahabharata · 7.68.51–52
॥
Devanāgarī
शरैः सहस्रशो विद्धा विधिवत् कल्पिता द्विपाः ॥
शेरते भूमिम् आसाद्य शैला वज्रहता इव ॥
स वाजिरथमातङ्गान् निघ्नन् व्यचरद् अर्जुनः ॥
प्रभिन्न इव मातङ्गो मृद्नन् नडवनं यथा ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śaraiḥ sahasraśo viddhā vidhivat kalpitā dvipāḥ ||
śerate bhūmim āsādya śailā vajrahatā iva ||
sa vājirathamātaṅgān nighnan vyacarad arjunaḥ ||
prabhinna iva mātaṅgo mṛdnan naḍavanaṃ yathā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
शरैः सहस्रशः विद्धाःśaraiḥ sahasraśaḥ viddhāḥpierced by thousands of arrows; pierced by thousands of arrows
विधिवत् कल्पिताः द्विपाःvidhivat kalpitāḥ dvipāḥelephants equipped according to rule; elephants equipped according to custom
शेरते भूमिम् आसाद्यśerate bhūmim āsādyalie, [having reached] the ground; lie on the ground
शैलाः वज्रहताः इवśailāḥ vajrahatāḥ ivalike mountains struck by the thunderbolt; like mountains struck by the thunderbolt
सः वाजिरथमातङ्गान्saḥ vājirathamātaṅgānhe, horses, chariots, elephants; he, horses, chariots, elephants
निघ्नन् व्यचरत् अर्जुनःnighnan vyacarat arjunaḥstriking them down, Arjuna roamed; striking them down, Arjuna roamed
प्रभिन्नः इव मातङ्गःprabhinnaḥ iva mātaṅgaḥlike an elephant in must; like an elephant in must
मृद्नन् नडवनम् यथाmṛdnan naḍavanam yathātrampling a thicket of reeds; trampling a thicket of reeds
Translation
Pierced by thousands of arrows, elephants equipped according to rule lie, [having reached] the ground, like mountains struck by the thunderbolt. He, striking down horses, chariots, and elephants, roamed, Arjuna, like an elephant in must trampling a thicket of reeds.
Version
8cff9097938e · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The image 'prabhinnaḥ iva mātaṅgaḥ mṛdnan naḍavanam,' 'like an elephant in must trampling reeds,' portrays Arjuna sweeping away the army like a stand of cane. He is strong among the weak — but his strength serves truth. It is telling that the same comparison to an elephant applies also to enemies trampling their own in panic: the difference lies in whom the might serves. The verse teaches that strength in itself is neutral — destructive or saving depending on whom it serves; the same image of an elephant in the reeds portrays both righteous retribution and blind panic, and everything is decided by the direction of the might: toward dharma or against it.