Shloka 396
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
अनिलेनेरितं घोरमुन्तस्थौ पार्थिव रज: । राजन! बड़े-बड़े वीरोंका विनाश करनेवाले उस घोर संग्रामके आरम्भ होते ही वायुकी प्रेरणासे धरतीकी भयंकर धूल ऊपरको उठने लगी
anilenā iritaṃ ghoraṃ utasthau pārthiva rajaḥ | rājan! baḍe-baḍe vīroṃkā vināśa karanevāle us ghora saṃgrāmake ārambha hote hī vāyukī preraṇāse dharatīkī bhayaṅkara dhūla ūparako uṭhane lagī |
قال سانجيا: أيها الملك، ما إن ابتدأت تلك المعركة المروّعة—المقدَّر لها أن تُهلك حتى أعظم الأبطال—حتى دفعت الريحُ غبارَ الأرض المخيف فارتفع عالياً، كأنه سحابةٌ تنذر بالخراب.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as a force of collective ruin: even nature (wind and dust) becomes a sign of impending destruction. Ethically, it underscores the heavy cost of violent conflict—glory is overshadowed by the annihilation of great warriors and the suffering that follows.
As the terrible battle begins, a fierce wind stirs up a thick, frightening cloud of dust from the earth. Sañjaya reports this to the king as an ominous atmosphere marking the start of a slaughterous engagement.