Shloka 42
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
प्रादुरासीदुभयतो राजन् मध्यगते5हनि । नरश्रेष्ठ नरेश्वर! मध्याह्नकी उस बेलामें दोनों पक्षोंके हाथी, घोड़ों और मनुष्योंका संहार होने लगा ।। पजञ्चालास्तु महाराज त्वरिता विजिगीषव:
sañjaya uvāca | prādurāsīd ubhayato rājan madhyagate 'hani | naraśreṣṭha nareśvara madhyāhnike tu velāyāṃ dvayoḥ pakṣayoḥ hastināṃ aśvānāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ ca saṃhāro 'bhavat || pañcālāstu mahārāja tvaritā vijigīṣavaḥ |
Sañjaya said: O King, when the day had reached its middle, a fierce destruction arose on both sides. O best of men, O lord of men, at that midday hour the elephants, horses, and warriors of the two armies began to be cut down in great numbers. And the Pāñcālas, O great king, moved swiftly, intent on victory.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the impartial, all-consuming nature of war: destruction rises on both sides, consuming animals and men alike. It implicitly warns that the pursuit of victory (vijigīṣā) in battle carries grave ethical and human costs, even when framed within kṣatriya duty.
At midday in the battle, heavy casualties begin to mount on both sides—elephants, horses, and soldiers are being slain. The Panchalas, eager to win, press forward quickly in the fighting.