Shloka 456
द्रोणकर्णयोः निशि संप्रहारः — Night Engagement with Droṇa and Karṇa
सूर्यास्तमनमिच्छन्तो लोहितायति भास्करे । वे श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे सिंधुराज जयद्रथको पीछे करके सूर्यास्त होनेकी इच्छा और प्रतीक्षा करने लगे। उस समय सूर्य लाल-से हो चले
sūryāstamanam icchanto lohitāyati bhāskare |
Sañjaya said: As the sun (Bhāskara) began to redden, they—eager for sunset—waited for it to arrive. Their intent was strategic and ruthless: placing the Sindhu king Jayadratha to the rear as a shield, they sought the opportunity to kill Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, timing their assault with the coming dusk. The scene underscores how, in war, desire and calculation can eclipse restraint, turning even the natural course of time into a weapon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention (icchā) shapes action in war: when victory becomes the sole aim, even time and circumstance (sunset) are exploited, and ethical restraint can be sidelined. It implicitly contrasts dharmic conduct with opportunistic calculation.
As the sun turns red near sunset, the opposing warriors wait for dusk, arranging Jayadratha to the rear and seeking a moment to strike at Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. The line sets the atmosphere and signals a tactical, time-sensitive move on the battlefield.