Shloka 11
Droṇavadha-saṃniveśaḥ — The Convergence Toward Droṇa’s Fall
Book 7, Chapter 164
रथमण्डलमार्गेषु चरन्तावरिमर्दनौ । घोररूपौ हि तावास्तां वृष्टिमन्ताविवाम्बुदौ,रथ मण्डलके मार्गोंपर विचरते हुए वे दोनों शत्रुमर्दन वीर वर्षा करनेवाले दो बादलोंके समान भंयकर रूप धारण किये हुए थे
rathamaṇḍalamārgeṣu carantāv arimardanau | ghorarūpau hi tāv āstāṃ vṛṣṭimantāv ivāmbudau ||
Sañjaya dit : Se mouvant sur les trajectoires circulaires tracées par leurs chars, ces deux guerriers broyeurs d’ennemis prenaient une allure effrayante—tels deux nuées d’orage gorgées de pluie, lourdes du pouvoir de déverser la destruction. L’image souligne que, lorsque la prouesse martiale est lâchée dans la guerre, elle devient une force écrasante, qui inspire la crainte et transforme le champ du dharma en épreuve de retenue et de devoir.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a storm-cloud simile to show how concentrated martial power can become an overwhelming, fear-inducing force. Ethically, it hints that war magnifies human capacities—courage and skill, but also terror and destruction—thereby testing whether duty (dharma) is carried out with discipline rather than mere ferocity.
Sañjaya describes two formidable warriors maneuvering their chariots in circular tracks on the battlefield. Their movement and appearance are portrayed as terrifying, comparable to two rain-heavy clouds poised to unleash a downpour—suggesting imminent, sweeping violence in the combat.