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Shloka 4

नराश्वमातड़रथै: समाकुलं शरासिशव्त्यृष्टिनिपातदुः:सहम्‌ । अभीरुजुष्ट हतदेहसंकुलं रणाजिरं लोहितमाबभौ तदा,उस समय हाथी, अश्व, रथ और पैदल सैनिकोंसे भरा हुआ बाण, खड़्ग, शक्ति और ऋष्टि आदि अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंके प्रहारसे दुःसह प्रतीत होनेवाला एवं मृतकोंके शरीरोंसे व्याप्त हुआ वह वीरसेवित समरांगण खूनसे लाल दिखायी देने लगा

sañjaya uvāca |

narāśva-mātaṅga-rathaiḥ samākulaṃ śarāsi-śakti-ṛṣṭi-nipāta-duḥsaham |

abhīru-juṣṭaṃ hata-deha-saṅkulaṃ raṇājiraṃ lohitam ābabhau tadā ||

Sañjaya sprach: „Da wurde das Schlachtfeld — verstopft von Fußsoldaten, Pferden, Elefanten und Wagen — unter den wuchtigen Schlägen von Pfeilen und Waffen wie Schwertern, Speeren und Lanzen nahezu unerträglich. Von den Leibern der Erschlagenen erfüllt und von Furchtlosen betreten, erschien jene Kampfarena blutrot.“

नराश्वमातङ्गरथैःwith men, horses, elephants, and chariots
नराश्वमातङ्गरथैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनर + अश्व + मातङ्ग + रथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
समाकुलम्crowded, filled
समाकुलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसमाकुल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
शरासिशक्त्यृष्टिनिपातदुःसहम्hard to endure due to the blows of arrows, swords, spears, and javelins
शरासिशक्त्यृष्टिनिपातदुःसहम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशर + असि + शक्ति + ऋष्टि + निपात + दुःसह
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अभीरुजुष्टम्frequented by the fearless (heroes)
अभीरुजुष्टम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअभीरु + जुष्ट
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हतदेहसंकुलम्thick with the bodies of the slain
हतदेहसंकुलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootहत + देह + संकुल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
रणाजिरम्battlefield
रणाजिरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरणाजिर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
लोहितम्red (with blood)
लोहितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootलोहित
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आबभौshone/appeared
आबभौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√भा (भा दीप्तौ)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
तदाthen, at that time
तदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
R
raṇājira (battlefield)
N
narāḥ (foot-soldiers)
A
aśvāḥ (horses)
M
mātaṅgāḥ (elephants)
R
rathāḥ (chariots)
Ś
śara (arrows)
A
asi (sword)
Ś
śakti (spear/javelin)
ṛṣṭi (lance)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the human cost of war: when courage is severed from restraint and dharma, the battlefield becomes a place of unbearable suffering, marked by bloodshed and the bodies of the slain—an implicit ethical warning about violence and its consequences.

Sañjaya gives a vivid report of the combat scene: the field is packed with infantry, horses, elephants, and chariots; weapons rain down; corpses accumulate; and the ground appears red with blood as fearless warriors continue to press the fight.