Shloka 363
भूतान्तकमिवायान्तं कालदण्डोग्रधारिणम् । भयानक कालदण्ड धारण किये, समस्त भूतोंके प्राणहन्ता यमराजके समान उसे विशाल धनुष उठाये आते देख वहाँ उपस्थित हुए वे सभी नरेश व्यथित हो उठे
bhūtāntakam ivāyāntaṃ kāladaṇḍogradhāriṇam | bhayānaka-kāladaṇḍaṃ dhārayitvā samasta-bhūtānāṃ prāṇahantā yamarāja-samam enaṃ viśāla-dhanuṣam utthāya āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra upasthitāḥ sarve nṛpā vyathitā babhūvuḥ |
Sañjaya sprach: Als sie ihn herankommen sahen wie den Vernichter aller Wesen—den furchtbaren Stab der Zeit tragend, gleich Yama, dem Räuber des Lebens—und mit erhobenem großen Bogen vorrücken, wurden alle dort versammelten Könige von Beklommenheit erschüttert. Die Szene zeichnet sein Nahen als Verkörperung unausweichlichen Todes, sodass das Schlachtfeld wie der Gerichtshof des Schicksals selbst erschien.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical vision that war unleashes forces resembling Kāla (Time) and Yama (Death): once violence is set in motion, even mighty rulers feel the helplessness of mortals before inevitability. It cautions against pride and highlights the moral weight of actions that summon destruction.
Sañjaya describes a formidable warrior approaching with a great bow, portrayed metaphorically as Yama or the ‘ender of beings’ carrying the staff of Time. The assembled kings, witnessing this ominous advance, become agitated and fearful, sensing imminent slaughter.