Shloka 60
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
अन्योन्यागस्कृतां राजन् यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम् मुहूर्तास्तमिते सूर्ये चक्रुर्युद्धे सुदारुणम्,राजन! एक-दूसरेपर प्रहार करनेवाले उन महारथियोंका वह युद्ध यमलोककी वृद्धि करनेवाला था। सूर्यास्तके दो घड़ी बादतक उन सब लोगोंने बड़ा भयंकर युद्ध किया
sañjaya uvāca | anyonyāgaskṛtāṁ rājan yamarāṣṭravivardhanam | muhūrtāstamite sūrye cakrur yuddhe sudāruṇam ||
Sañjaya said: O King, striking one another in mutual offense, those warriors waged a most dreadful battle—one that only swelled the realm of Yama. Even after the sun had set, for two muhūrtas they continued that fierce fighting.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames relentless mutual violence as ethically ruinous: when combat becomes 'āgas' (wrongdoing) and continues beyond proper restraint, it chiefly serves death (Yama). It underscores how war, when driven by reciprocal aggression, accelerates destruction and karmic consequence rather than honor.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the warriors, striking each other fiercely, continued a dreadful battle even after sunset—lasting for two muhūrtas—so deadly that it seemed to increase Yama’s domain.