Shloka 19
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
उत्पेतु: सहसा राजन् हंसा इव महोदधौ । ते त्वदीयान् समासाद्य हयसंघान् मनोजवान्
sañjaya uvāca | utpetuḥ sahasā rājan haṃsā iva mahodadhau | te tvadīyān samāsādya hayasaṅghān manojavān rājann urasā urasi ca nāsikayā ca parasparaṃ nāsikāsu prahārān pracakruḥ | te sahasā vegapūrvam abhihatyābhihatyā pṛthivyāṃ nipetuḥ |
Wahai Raja, mereka mendadak melonjak seperti kawanan angsa yang terbang di atas samudra raya. Lalu mereka mendekati pasukan kuda-kudamu yang secepat pikiran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, speed and aggression quickly become self-destructive: mutual collision leads to injury and collapse. It implicitly warns that unchecked force and rivalry produce suffering for both sides.
Sanjaya describes a sudden clash involving fast-moving horse formations. They surge forward like swans over the ocean, collide chest-to-chest and muzzle-to-muzzle, and repeatedly crash down to the ground from the force of impact.