Shloka 175
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
रथक्षिप्तमहावप्रां पताकारुचिरद्रुमाम् । शरमीनां महारीद्रां प्रासशक्त्यूष्टिडुण्डुभाम्,अश्व॒त्थामाने उस युद्धस्थलमें खूनकी नदी बहा दी, जो शोणितके प्रवाहसे अत्यन्त भयंकर प्रतीत होती थी, जिसमें कटकर गिरी हुई विशाल ध्वजाएँ मेढकोंके समान और रणभेरियाँ विशाल कछुओंके सदृश जान पड़ती थीं। राजाओंके श्वेत छत्र हंसोंकी श्रेणीके समान उस नदीका सेवन करते थे। चँवरसमूह फेनका भ्रम उत्पन्न करते थे। कंक और गीध ही बड़े-बड़े ग्राह-से जान पड़ते थे। अनेक प्रकारके आयुध वहाँ मछलियोंके समान भरे थे। विशाल हाथी शिलाखण्डोंके समान प्रतीत होते थे। मरे हुए घोड़े वहाँ मगरोंके समान व्याप्त थे। गिरे पड़े हुए रथ ऊँचे-ऊँचे टीलोंके समान जान पड़ते थे। पताकाएँ सुन्दर वृक्षोंके समान प्रतीत होती थीं। बाण ही मीन थे। देखनेमें वह बड़ी भयंकर थी। प्रास, शक्ति और ऋष्षि आदि अस्त्र डुण्डुभ सर्पके समान थे। मज्जा और मांस ही उस नदीमें महापंकके समान प्रतीत होते थे। तैरती हुई लाशें नौकाका भ्रम उत्पन्न करती थीं। केशरूपी सेवारोंसे वह रंग- बिरंगी दिखायी दे रही थी। वह कायरोंको मोह प्रदान करनेवाली थी। गजराजों, घोड़ों और योद्धाओंके शरीरोंका नाश होनेसे उस नदीका प्राकट्य हुआ था। योद्धाओंकी आर्तवाणी ही उसकी कलकल ध्वनि थी। उस नदीसे रक्तकी लहरें उठ रही थीं। हिंसक जन्तुओंके कारण उसकी भयंकरता और भी बढ़ गयी थी। वह यमराजके राज्यरूपी महासागरमें मिलनेवाली थी
rathakṣiptamahāvaprāṁ patākāruciradrumām | śaramīnāṁ mahārīdrāṁ prāsaśaktyṛṣṭiduṇḍubhām ||
Sañjaya said: “A dreadful river of blood had come into being on that battlefield, made terrifying by the rushing current of gore. In it, fallen great banners looked like frogs, and the war-drums seemed like huge tortoises. The white royal parasols appeared like rows of swans drinking at its waters, while clusters of fly-whisks gave the illusion of foam. Vultures and kites loomed like monstrous crocodiles; weapons of many kinds filled it like fish. Massive elephants seemed like boulders, dead horses spread through it like alligators, and overturned chariots rose like high mounds. Banners stood like beautiful trees; arrows themselves were the fish. Spears, śaktis, and lances were like serpent-like duṇḍubhas, and marrow and flesh formed a great mire. Floating corpses looked like boats, and the river appeared variegated with hair like water-weeds. It bewildered the faint-hearted. Born from the destruction of elephant-kings, horses, and warriors, its gurgling sound was the anguished cries of fighters; waves of blood rose from it, and its horror increased because of the carnivorous creatures. It flowed onward to merge into the great ocean that is Yama’s realm.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage uses stark, extended metaphor to expose the moral cost of war: royal emblems and heroic instruments become grotesque features of a ‘river of death.’ The imagery presses an ethical reflection—when dharma collapses into unchecked violence, glory turns into horror, and the battlefield naturally ‘flows’ toward Yama’s realm, reminding listeners of impermanence and karmic consequence.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāman’s slaughter has produced a horrific scene: the battlefield is envisioned as a river of blood filled with weapons, bodies, and shattered war-gear, with scavenging birds and beasts intensifying the terror. The description culminates in the idea that this river runs into the ocean of Yama’s kingdom—signifying mass death and the inevitable destination of the slain.