Shloka 81
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
ततो मुहूर्तात् तेडपश्यन् रजो भीम॑ समुत्थितम्
tato muhūrtāt te 'paśyan rajo bhīmaṃ samutthitam
Luego, tras un breve intervalo, vieron alzarse una pavorosa nube de polvo: presagio funesto en el campo de batalla, que anunciaba la llegada o el movimiento de grandes fuerzas y hacía más grave el peso moral de la matanza que se desplegaba.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war’s momentum manifests in ominous signs—here, a fearsome dust-cloud—reminding the listener that violence escalates beyond individual control and deepens the ethical gravity of the conflict.
Sañjaya reports that, after a short time, those present observe a terrifying mass of dust rising, typically indicating rapid movement of troops, chariots, or a major engagement about to unfold.