Shloka 31
हयान् गजपदातींश्व रथांश्न तरसा बहून् निमज्जयन्तं समरे परवीरापहारिणम्,भीष्मजी उस समुद्रमें शत्रुपक्षके हाथियों, घोड़ों, पैदलों तथा बहुसंख्यक रथोंको वेगपूर्वक डुबो रहे थे। वे समरभूमिमें शत्रुवीरोंके प्राणोंका अपहरण करनेवाले थे
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | hayān gajapadātīṁś ca rathāṁś ca tarasā bahūn nimajjayantaṁ samare paravīrāpahāriṇam |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Sur le champ de bataille, je vois Bhīṣma : d’une vitesse irrésistible, il accable et “engloutit” d’innombrables chevaux, éléphants, fantassins et chars de l’ennemi ; en guerre, il devient celui qui ravit la vie des héros adverses.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of righteous warfare: a warrior’s excellence (vīrya) operates within kṣatriya-dharma, yet it necessarily entails the taking of life. It invites reflection on duty, consequence, and the tragic cost of conflict.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is being informed/visualizing the battle and describes Bhīṣma’s ferocity: he is rapidly crushing the enemy’s forces—horses, elephants, infantry, and chariots—like drowning them in a sea of combat, and he is killing opposing heroes.