Shloka 2
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
नरा रथा गजौघाश्न सादिनश्ष सहस्रश: । वाजिनश्न पराक्रान्ता: समाजग्मु: परस्परम्,पैदल, रथी, हाथीसवार तथा सहमसौ्रों घुड़सवार पराक्रम दिखाते हुए एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये
sañjaya uvāca | narā rathā gajaughāś ca sādināś ca sahasraśaḥ | vājinaś ca parākrāntāḥ samājagmuḥ parasparam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Fußsoldaten, Wagenkämpfer, Scharen von Elefanten und Tausende berittener Krieger—ihre Tapferkeit zeigend—rückten gegeneinander vor und prallten im Kampf aufeinander.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inexorable convergence of armed forces in war, foregrounding kshatriya valor while implicitly reminding the listener of war’s grave ethical weight—courage is displayed, yet the cost of conflict is unavoidable.
Sanjaya reports that multiple divisions—infantry, chariots, elephant corps, and thousands of horsemen—advance and collide with each other, marking an intense escalation of close combat.