Shloka 61
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
यमदण्डोपमां गुर्वीमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनाम् । अपश्याम महाराज रौद्रां विशसनीं गदाम्
yamadaṇḍopamāṁ gurvīm indrāśanisamasvanām | apaśyāma mahārāja raudrāṁ viśasanīṁ gadām ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, we beheld a massive mace—fierce and slaughter-dealing—like Yama’s staff itself. When it struck, it resounded with a roar like Indra’s thunderbolt.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: weapons are portrayed with death-symbolism (Yama’s staff), reminding the listener that battlefield prowess carries the shadow of destruction and accountability, even when exercised under kṣatriya-duty.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he witnessed on the battlefield: a huge, terrifying mace whose impact sounded like Indra’s thunderbolt, emphasizing the overwhelming, death-dealing power present in the combat.