Shloka 2
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! उन दोनों सेनाओंके हाथी, घोड़े और मनुष्य बहुत प्रसन्न थे। देवताओं तथा असुरोंके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाली वे दोनों विशाल सेनाएँ परस्पर भिड़कर अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका प्रहार करने लगीं ।।
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! ubhayor api senayor hastinaḥ aśvāś ca manuṣyāś ca sumanasaḥ āsan. devāsura-samābhāsaḥ te dve vipulāḥ senāḥ parasparaṁ saṁnipatya astrāṇi śastrāṇi ca prahartuṁ pravavṛtuḥ. tato nara-ratha-śreṣṭhāḥ pattayaś cogra-vikramāḥ samprāhārān bhṛśaṁ cakrur deha-pāpmāsu-nāśanān. tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājan tava putrasya vāhinīm karṇasya pramukhe kruddhā nijaghnus te mahārathāḥ.
Dijo Sañjaya: Oh rey, los elefantes, los caballos y la infantería de ambos ejércitos estaban exultantes. Aquellas dos vastas huestes, resplandecientes como dioses y asuras, se cerraron una contra otra y comenzaron a golpearse con armas y proyectiles. Entonces los más eminentes combatientes—grandes guerreros de carro y fieros infantes—desataron asaltos violentos que destruían cuerpos y vidas. Del mismo modo, oh rey, los mahārathas Pāṇḍava, enfurecidos, justo ante Karna, empezaron a segar el ejército de tu hijo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how exhilaration and anger in war quickly become engines of destruction: once armies collide, the momentum of pride and wrath overwhelms restraint, leading to the loss of bodies and lives. It implicitly warns that unchecked krodha (anger) and martial excitement eclipse compassion and discernment, even among the greatest warriors.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that both armies—elephants, horses, and foot-soldiers—are eager and radiant as they clash. Fierce close combat begins with astras and śastras. In particular, the Pāṇḍava mahārathas, enraged, attack and destroy Duryodhana’s forces right in Karṇa’s presence at the front.