Shloka 6.44.11
चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 44): निशायुद्धम्, धूलिरुधिरप्रवाहः, इन्द्रजितो मायायुद्धम्
वर्तमानेतथाघोरेसङ्ग्रामेरोमहर्षणे ।।।।रुधिरोधामहाघोरानद्यस्तत्रप्रसुस्रुवुः ।
vartamāne tathā ghore saṅgrāme romaharṣaṇe |
rudhirodhā mahāghorā nadyaḥ tatra prasusruvuḥ ||6.44.11||
As that dreadful, hair-raising battle raged on, terrifying rivers of blood flowed there.
In that way as the war was going on, and rivers of blood flowing with the terrific noise it made hair stand on end.
The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: even when fighting is undertaken for dharma, its cost is horrific—urging sobriety, responsibility, and avoidance of needless violence.
The narrator intensifies the scene with grim imagery as the battle continues and bloodshed becomes overwhelming.
Moral seriousness: righteous warriors must remember the consequences of force and remain anchored in just purpose rather than cruelty.