Shloka 42
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
प्रादुरासीद् रजस्तीव्रं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । ध्वजानां धूयमानानां सहसा मातरिश्वना
prādurāsīd rajastīvraṃ na prājñāyata kiṃcana | dhvajānāṃ dhūyamānānāṃ sahasā mātariśvanā ||
Sañjaya said: A fierce cloud of dust suddenly rose up, so that nothing could be clearly made out. The banners, whipped and shaken all at once by the wind, were being violently tossed—an ominous sign amid the gathering clash of armies.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, clarity and discernment are quickly overwhelmed by sudden forces—symbolized by blinding dust and wind-tossed banners. Ethically, it underscores the confusion and instability that accompany violence, where right judgment becomes difficult and ominous signs multiply.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield as a sudden, intense dust cloud rises, obscuring visibility. At the same time, strong winds (personified as Mātariśvan/Vāyu) shake the armies’ banners, conveying the turbulent onset of combat and an atmosphere of foreboding.