Shloka 18
सर्वस्तु सेना व्यतिसेव्यमाना: पदातिभि: पावकतैलहस्तै: । प्रकाश्यमाना ददृशुर्निशायां यथान्तरिक्षे जलदास्तडिद्धिः
sarvastu senā vyatisevyamānāḥ padātibhiḥ pāvaka-taila-hastaiḥ | prakāśyamānā dadṛśur niśāyāṃ yathāntarikṣe jaladās taḍiddhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The entire army, being closely attended and served by the foot-soldiers carrying fire and oil, became clearly visible in the night—like clouds in the sky lit up by flashes of lightning. The scene underscores how war compels constant vigilance and artificial illumination, turning the darkness of night into a stage for fear, readiness, and relentless duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral atmosphere of war: even at night, the compulsion to remain alert forces men to create light through fire and oil. It suggests how conflict erodes natural rest and safety, replacing them with constant watchfulness and anxiety.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield at night: infantrymen move about with fire and oil, tending to and accompanying the forces so that the whole army becomes visible. The army’s appearance is compared to clouds in the sky illuminated by lightning.