Shloka 53
भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103
परस्परमवेक्षेतां कालानलसमौ युधि । तयो: समागमो घोरो बभूव कटुकोदय:
parasparam avekṣetāṃ kālānalasamau yudhi | tayoḥ samāgamo ghoro babhūva kaṭukodayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: In the midst of battle, the two kept looking at one another, like Death and the all-consuming fire. Their meeting was dreadful, rising like a bitter, ominous turning-point—foretelling harsh consequences born of war’s fury.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war magnifies destructive forces: when great opponents meet, the encounter can resemble impersonal powers like Death and Fire, reminding readers that violence invites harsh, bitter outcomes beyond personal rivalry.
Sañjaya describes two formidable combatants facing each other on the battlefield, exchanging intense looks before clashing; their confrontation is portrayed as terrifying and portentous, signaling a severe and painful escalation in the war.