Shloka 1
महोदरवधः
The Slaying of Mahodara
हन्यमानेबलेतूर्णमन्योन्यंतेमहामृथे ।सरसीवमहाघर्मेसोपक्षीणेबभूवतुः ।।6.98.1।।
hanyamāne bale tūrṇam anyonyaṃ te mahāmṛdhe |
sarasīva mahāgharme sopakṣīṇe babhūvatuḥ ||6.98.1||
In jener großen Schlacht, als die Heere einander rasch vernichteten, glichen sie Seen in der Glut des Sommers, deren Wasser völlig geschwunden ist.
In the major conflict, each one destroying the other army, it seemed like the mid-summer lakes totally lost its water.
FAQs
The verse warns that unchecked violence rapidly exhausts collective strength; Dharma requires restraint and right purpose in the use of force.
A general battlefield description: both sides are inflicting heavy losses, and the armies are becoming depleted.
Not a single character virtue, but the implied value of prudence—recognizing the cost of war and the need for disciplined action.