Shloka 64
एवं स नाराचगणप्रतापी शरार्चिरुच्चावचतिग्मतेजा: । ददाह सर्वा तव पुत्रसेना- ममृष्यमाणस्तरसा तरस्वी,जैसे वनचरोंद्वारा वनके भीतर लगायी हुई आग धीरे-धीरे बढ़कर प्रज्वलित एवं महान् तापसे युक्त हो घास-फ़ूसके ढेरको, बहुसंख्यक वृक्षोंको और सूखी हुई लतावल्लरियोंको भी जलाकर भस्म कर देती है, उसी प्रकार नाराचसमूहोंद्वारा ताप देनेवाले, बाणरूपी ज्वालाओंसे युक्त, वेगवान्, प्रचण्ड तेजस्वी और अमर्षमें भरे हुए अर्जुनने समरांगणमें आपके पुत्रकी सारी रथसेनाको शीघ्रतापूर्वक भस्म कर डाला
sañjaya uvāca |
evaṁ sa nārācagaṇapratāpī śarārcir uccāvacatigmatejāḥ |
dadāha sarvā tava putrasenām amṛṣyamāṇas tarasā tarasvī ||
Sañjaya said: Thus that mighty warrior, fierce with the power of volleys of nārāca-arrows—his energy sharp and blazing with the flame-like radiance of shafts—burned up all the army of your sons. Unable to endure (the affront and the pressure of battle), and driven by swift force, the powerful Arjuna rapidly consumed their chariot-forces on the battlefield, like a forest-fire kindled within the woods that spreads and, with great heat, reduces grass, trees, and dried creepers to ash.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how unchecked conflict and accumulated hostility can erupt into overwhelming destruction—likened to a forest-fire. Ethically, it points to the grave consequences that follow when war is pursued and sustained through adharma: once unleashed, violence spreads rapidly and consumes entire forces, leaving little room for reversal.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a single warrior—understood as Arjuna—launches fierce volleys of nārāca arrows. With blazing, sharp energy and intolerant wrath, he swiftly devastates the Kaurava forces (especially their chariot troops), compared to a fire spreading through a forest and burning everything in its path.