Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 1
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
[दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका इं श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ३० ६ “लोक हैं।] नल रत (0) आज अत 3 पज्चचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: उभय पक्षके सैनिकोंका उन्ड-युद्ध संजय उवाच पूर्वाह्नि तस्य रौद्रस्य युद्धमह्नो विशाम्पते । प्रावर्तत महाघोरें राज्ञां देहावकर्तनम्
sañjaya uvāca | pūrvāhṇi tasya raudrasya yuddham ahno viśāmpate | prāvartata mahāghoraṃ rājñāṃ dehāvakartanam ||
Sañjaya said: O lord of the people, in the forenoon of that dreadful day, a most terrifying battle began—one that cut down the bodies of kings.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as intrinsically dreadful and body-destroying, reminding the listener that even kings—symbols of order and protection—are reduced to mortal bodies in violence. It implicitly invites reflection on the ethical cost of conflict and the fragility of worldly power.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in the morning portion of a fearsome day on the battlefield, an extremely terrible fight commenced—one characterized by the cutting down of kings.