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Shloka 343

पाण्डवानामनीकानि प्रगृह्मासौ व्यशातयत्‌ | उन्होंने रणभूमिमें भगवान्‌ रुद्र और विष्णुके समान अपना भयंकर रूप दिखाकर पाण्डव-सेनाओंका बलपूर्वक विनाश कर डाला

pāṇḍavānām anīkāni pragṛhya asau vyaśātayat |

Sañjaya said: Seizing the battle-formations of the Pāṇḍavas, he shattered them. On the battlefield he revealed a terrifying aspect—like Rudra and Viṣṇu—and, by sheer force, brought about the destruction of the Pāṇḍava armies, showing how war magnifies both prowess and ruin beyond ordinary human measure.

पाण्डवानाम्of the Pandavas
पाण्डवानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अनीकानिarmies/divisions
अनीकानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअनीक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
प्रगृह्यhaving seized/held
प्रगृह्य:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + ग्रह्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), having seized/held fast
असौhe (that one)
असौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअसद्/अदस् (pronoun stem: अदस्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
व्यशातयत्destroyed/caused to be destroyed
व्यशातयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootव्य + शातय् (causative of शा/शि/शो?; denominative/causative usage: to destroy, to cause to perish)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pāṇḍavas
R
Rudra
V
Viṣṇu

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the moral gravity of war: extraordinary martial power can resemble divine, world-shaking force, yet its immediate fruit is devastation. It invites reflection on how violence, even when framed within kṣatriya duty, rapidly escalates into widespread suffering and loss.

Sañjaya reports that a leading warrior on the field seizes and breaks the Pāṇḍavas’ troop-formations, displaying a fearsome, overwhelming presence likened to Rudra and Viṣṇu, and thereby causes heavy destruction among the Pāṇḍava forces.