Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 32
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
अर्जुनानिलभिगन्नानि वनान्यर्जुनविद्विषाम् । चक्रुलोहितधाराभिर्धरणीं लोहितान्तराम्,अर्जुनके शत्रुरूपी वन अर्जुनरूपी वायुसे ही छिन्न-भिन्न हो लाल धाराएँ (रक्त) बहाकर पृथ्वीको भी लाल करने लगे
vaibamp01yana uv01ca |
arjun01nilabhigann01ni van01ny arjunavidvi 6301m |
cakrur lohitadh01r01bhir dhara 472bm lohit01ntar01m ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Die Wälder, die Arjuna feind waren, wurden vom windgleichen Ansturm Arjunas getroffen, zerrissen und auseinandergerissen; rote Ströme quollen hervor, sodass selbst die Erde wie von Röte durchzogen und erfüllt erschien. Das Bild macht deutlich, wie überwältigende Kraft, im Kampf entfesselt, die Landschaft selbst verwandeln kann — eine Mahnung, dass Gewalt Spuren über den unmittelbaren Feind hinaus hinterlässt und daher Zügelung und rechten Zweck gemäß dem Dharma verlangt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a powerful simileArjuna as a wind that shreds an enemy forestto highlight that martial power can overwhelm everything in its path. Ethically, it implies that such force must be governed by dharma, because its effects spread beyond the immediate opponent and stain the world around it.
Vaibamp01yana describes Arjunas fierce advance: the forest, treated as if hostile to him, is battered like by a storm, broken apart, and made to run with red streams, leaving the ground appearing red-streaked.