Shloka 15
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
महानुभावाश्न ततः प्रकाश- मालोक्य वीरा: सहसाभिपेतु: । रथी रथेनाभिहत: ससूतः: पपात साश्वः सरथ: सकेतु:
sañjaya uvāca |
mahānubhāvāś ca tataḥ prakāśam ālokya vīrāḥ sahasābhipetuḥ |
rathī rathenābhihataḥ sasūtaḥ papāta sāśvaḥ sarathaḥ saketuḥ ||
sa vāraṇarathaughānāṃ sahasrair bahubhir vṛtaḥ |
vājibhiḥ pattibhiś caiva vṛtaḥ śatasahasraśaḥ ||
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces, al ver aquel resplandor, los guerreros de gran poder se precipitaron de inmediato. Un combatiente de carro, golpeado por otro carro, cayó—junto con su auriga—con sus caballos, su carro y su estandarte. En medio del tumulto, quedó cercado por muchos miles de elefantes y por masas de carros, y asimismo rodeado por caballería e infantería en sus cientos de miles.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: even the mighty can be suddenly brought down, and personal valor is fragile before the vast, impersonal surge of armed forces. It implicitly warns that when conflict escalates beyond restraint, outcomes become dominated by mass violence rather than individual righteousness.
Sañjaya describes a sudden charge after warriors behold a striking radiance. In the clash, a chariot-warrior is struck and falls along with his charioteer, horses, chariot, and banner, while the battlefield swells with dense formations of elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry surrounding the combatants.