Gadā-yuddhe Bhīma–Duryodhanayoḥ Tumulaḥ Saṃprahāraḥ
Mace-duel’s intense exchange
राहुश्नाग्रसदादित्यमपर्वणि विशाम्पते । चकम्पे च महाकम्पं पृथिवी सवनद्रुमा
sañjaya uvāca | rāhuḥ śnāgrasad ādityam aparvaṇi viśāmpate | cakampe ca mahākampaṃ pṛthivī savanadrumā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai penguasa rakyat, meski bukan saat bulan baru, Rāhu menelan Matahari. Lalu bumi—beserta hutan dan pepohonannya—berguncang hebat dalam gempa besar.”
संजय उवाच
The verse uses an untimely eclipse and an earthquake as portents: when adharma and mass violence peak, the world is portrayed as losing its normal auspicious rhythms. It warns that unrighteous action in war brings not only human ruin but a sense of cosmic imbalance and inevitable consequence.
Sañjaya reports ominous signs to the king: Rāhu eclipses the Sun at an improper time, and the earth shakes violently with forests and trees. These are narrative signals that a catastrophic turn in the battle is imminent.