Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 61
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
यथा देवासूुरं युद्ध पूर्वमासीद् विशाम्पते । अभीतानां तथा राजन् यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम्
yathā devāsuraṃ yuddhaṃ pūrvam āsīd viśāmpate | abhītānāṃ tathā rājan yamarāṣṭravivardhanam ||
Wahai raja, pelindung rakyat! Seperti dahulu kala terjadi perang antara para dewa dan asura, demikian pula kini pertempuran mengerikan berkobar antara Kaurava dan Pāṇḍava yang tak gentar—pertempuran yang meluaskan wilayah Yama, Sang Penguasa Maut.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as a cosmic-scale event whose immediate ethical consequence is the multiplication of death—“the increase of Yama’s realm.” It implicitly warns that even heroic fearlessness in battle culminates in mortality, urging reflection on the cost of violence and the gravity of kṣatriya action.
Sañjaya reports to the king that a terrifying battle has begun between the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas. He heightens the scene by comparing it to the primordial devas–asuras war and by stating that the slaughter will expand Yama’s dominion.
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