Shloka 1
औपनआक्ाा बछ। अर: षट्सप्तत्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: अलायुथका युद्धस्थलमें प्रवेश तथा उसके स्वरूप और रथ आदिका वर्णन संजय उवाच तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने कर्णराक्षसयोर्मथे अलायुधो राक्षसेन्द्रो वीर्यवानभ्यवर्तत,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! इस प्रकार कर्ण और घटोत्कचका वह युद्ध चल ही रहा था कि पराक्रमी राक्षसराज अलायुध वहाँ उपस्थित हुआ
sañjaya uvāca | tasmiṃs tathā vartamāne karṇa-rākṣasayor mathe alāyudho rākṣasendro vīryavān abhyavartata |
Sañjaya said: O King, while that combat between Karṇa and the rākṣasa (Ghaṭotkaca) was thus in progress, the mighty rākṣasa-lord Alāyudha arrived there, entering the battlefield. The scene shows how war continually draws in new forces, escalating violence and testing the warriors’ resolve and discernment amid chaos.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the compounding nature of violence in war: even as one duel rages, new combatants arrive, intensifying destruction. Ethically, it points to how quickly circumstances can escalate, demanding steadiness and discernment (viveka) amid turmoil.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that while Karṇa’s fight with the rākṣasa (contextually Ghaṭotkaca) continues, the powerful rākṣasa-king Alāyudha arrives on the battlefield, joining the unfolding confrontation.