Shloka 5
Virāṭa Rescued from Suśarmā; Night Battle and Royal Gratitude (विराटमोक्षणं सुशर्मवधाभिमुखं च)
देवासुरसमो राजन्नासीत् सूर्येडवलम्बति । पदातिरथनागेन्द्रहयारोहबलौघवान्,राजन! सूर्य पश्चिमकी ओर ढल रहे थे। उस समय पैदल, रथी, हाथीसवार तथा घुड़सवारोंके समूहसे भरा हुआ वह युद्ध देवासुरसंग्रामके समान हो रहा था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — devāsura-samo rājann āsīt sūrye ’valambati | padāti-ratha-nāgendra-hayāroha-balaughavān ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: O König, als die Sonne sich nach Westen neigte, schwoll die Schlacht an wie der Krieg der Götter gegen die Asuras—angefüllt mit Scharen von Fußsoldaten, Wagenlenkern, Elefantenreitern und Reitern zu Pferd.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the overwhelming, almost cosmic scale of war and implicitly cautions that when conflict escalates through sheer force and numbers, it can resemble primordial strife; leaders and witnesses must retain discernment and restraint even amid such intensity.
As evening approaches and the sun declines westward, the fighting intensifies; the battlefield is crowded with combined arms—infantry, chariots, elephants, and cavalry—so that the clash is compared to the legendary war between gods and demons.