Shloka 20
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Bhīṣma’s Theological Explanation of Pāṇḍava Invincibility
Book 6, Chapter 61
पदाती रथिनं संख्ये रथी चापि पदातिनम् | न्यपातयच्छितै: शस्त्रै: सेनयोरुभयोरपि,दोनों ही सेनाओंमें पैदल वीर रथीको और रथी योद्धा पैदल सैनिकको अपने तीखे अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंद्वारा रणभूमिमें मार गिराता था
padātī rathinaṃ saṅkhye rathī cāpi padātinam | nyapātayacchitaiḥ śastraiḥ senayor ubhayor api ||
Dijo Sañjaya: En el fragor de la batalla, los infantes abatían a los guerreros de carro, y los guerreros de carro, a su vez, derribaban a los infantes, con armas de filo agudo—por igual en ambos ejércitos. La escena mostraba la sombría reciprocidad de la guerra: ni el rango ni el modo de combatir conceden inmunidad moral; la violencia devuelve violencia y se acrecienta en un ciclo sin fin.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the impartial, leveling nature of war: distinctions of status (infantry vs chariot-warrior) do not prevent mutual destruction. Ethically, it highlights how violence becomes reciprocal and widespread, warning that once dharma is eclipsed by battle-fury, suffering spreads across all ranks.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield where, amid intense fighting, infantrymen bring down chariot-fighters and chariot-fighters bring down infantrymen with sharp weapons—casualties occurring on both sides in equal measure.