Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिमित्राणामिमं श्रुत्वा पराभवम्
jñātisambandhimitrāṇām imaṃ śrutvā parābhavam
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ayant appris la défaite qui s’était abattue sur leurs parents, leurs proches et leurs alliés, ils furent ébranlés par le choc de la perte—épisode qui rappelle combien les issues de la guerre se répercutent à travers les réseaux de loyauté et de devoir, éprouvant les liens de parenté et d’amitié.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights that defeat in war is not isolated to the battlefield; it reverberates through kinship and alliances, reminding readers that dharma involves responsibility toward one’s social bonds and that violence carries communal consequences.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that news of a particular defeat has been heard by those connected as kinsmen, relatives, and allies, setting up their reaction and the ensuing developments in the Karṇa Parva’s battle narrative.