Shloka 26
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Bhīṣma’s Theological Explanation of Pāṇḍava Invincibility
Book 6, Chapter 61
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे यत्नात् पाण्डवान् प्रत्ययोधयन् | वे अतिरथी वीर थे। उन्होंने अपने बाणोंद्वारा युद्धस्थलमें रथयूथपतियोंको विदीर्ण करके यमलोक भेज दिया। युगान्तमें कालके समान उस युद्धमें कुन्ती-कुमार अर्जुनके द्वारा आपके सैनिकोंका भयंकर विनाश हो रहा था, तो भी वे यत्नपूर्वक पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्ध करते रहे,परिस्तोमै: कुथाभि श्ष कम्बलैश्व महाधनै: । भूर्भाति भरतश्रेष्ठ स्रग्दामैरिव चित्रिता भरतश्रेष्ठ! वहाँ इधर-उधर गिरे हुए ध्वज, धनुष, तोमर, प्रास, गदा, परिघ, कम्पन, शक्ति, विचित्र कवच, कणप, अंकुश, चमचमाते हुए खड्ग, सुवर्णमय पाँखवाले बाण, शूल, गद्दी और बहुमूल्य कम्बलोंद्वारा आच्छादित हुई वहाँकी भूमि भाँति-भाँतिके पुष्पहारोंसे चित्रित हुई-सी जान पड़ती थी
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe yatnāt pāṇḍavān pratyayodhayan | te atirathī vīrāḥ teṣāṃ bāṇair yuddhasthale rathayūthapatīn vidīrya yamalokaṃ preṣayām āsuḥ | yugānte kāla iva tasmin yuddhe kuntīkumāreṇārjunena tava sainyasya bhayaṅkaro vināśo bhavati sma, tathāpi te yatnapūrvakaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha yuyudhire || paristomaiḥ kuthābhiś ca kambalaiś ca mahādhanaiḥ | bhūrbhāti bharataśreṣṭha sragdāmair iva citritā ||
Sañjaya said: The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, striving with all their might, fought back against the Pāṇḍavas. Those heroic warriors—mighty chariot-fighters—shattered the leaders of chariot-squadrons with their arrows on the battlefield and sent them to Yama’s realm. And yet, like Time at the end of an age, Arjuna, Kuntī’s son, was bringing about a dreadful destruction of your army in that battle; still they continued to contend with the Pāṇḍavas with determined effort. O best of the Bharatas, the ground there, strewn with costly coverings—paristomas, kuthās, and rich blankets—appeared as though painted with garlands of many colors.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the ethical gravity and inevitability of consequences in war: even great warriors striving with full effort cannot escape the larger moral and temporal forces symbolized by Arjuna as 'Time at the end of an age.' It highlights kṣatriya resolve while reminding that death and ruin are unavoidable once adharma-driven conflict has ripened.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava warriors are fighting hard and killing commanders, yet Arjuna is devastating Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s forces like apocalyptic Time. The battlefield is described vividly: the earth is strewn with costly rugs and blankets, making it look as if decorated with colorful garlands.