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 ||
Sañjaya sprach: O König, die Wagenkämpfer zusammen mit den Fußsoldaten, und auch die Reiter zusammen mit den Fußsoldaten, stürmten im Kampf aufeinander los, von Zorn entflammt und nicht gewillt, irgendeine Kränkung zu ertragen. Die Szene zeigt den Zusammenbruch der Selbstbeherrschung: Wut treibt zum gegenseitigen Angriff und verschärft die moralische Tragik des Krieges.
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.