Shloka 26
Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
रथिनः पत्तिभि: सार्ध सादिनश्षापि पत्तिभि: | अन्योन्यं समरे राजन प्रत्यधावन्नमर्षिता:
rathinaḥ pattibhiḥ sārdhaṃ sādinaś cāpi pattibhiḥ | anyonyaṃ samare rājan pratyadhāvann amarṣitāḥ ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—রাজন! রথীরা পদাতিকদের সঙ্গে এবং অশ্বারোহীরাও পদাতিকদের সঙ্গে, ক্রোধে অদম্য হয়ে, যুদ্ধে পরস্পরের দিকে ধেয়ে গেল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and intolerance (amarṣa) erode self-control, leading to reciprocal violence. Ethically, it underscores the danger of letting wrath govern action, even within the framework of kṣatriya warfare.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that different divisions—chariot-warriors and horsemen, along with infantry—charge at each other simultaneously, indicating a fierce, close-quarters clash where formations intermix and mutual assaults intensify.