Shloka 80
Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam
Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32
ततो बले भृशलुलिते परस्परं निरीक्षमाणे रुधिरौघसम्प्लुते । दिवाकरे<स्तंगिरिमास्थिते शनै- रुभे प्रयाते शिबिराय भारत
tato bale bhṛśalulite parasparaṃ nirīkṣamāṇe rudhiraughasamplute | divākare 'stangirim āsthite śanaiḥ ubhe prayāte śibirāya bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: Then, when the armies had been grievously shattered and were looking upon one another amid a flood of blood, and when the sun had slowly reached the mountain of setting, both sides withdrew to their respective camps, O Bhārata. The verse underscores the grim moral weight of battle: even as hostility persists, the day’s end imposes a pause, leaving both hosts to confront the consequences of violence before resuming their chosen course.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral gravity and human cost of war: the battlefield is drenched in blood, and yet the cycle of conflict is temporarily checked by time and nature (sunset). It invites reflection on responsibility and the consequences of chosen actions, even when duty and hostility compel continued fighting.
After intense fighting that has badly shattered the forces, both sides stand facing and observing one another amid bloodshed. As the sun slowly sets, they disengage and return to their respective camps, marking the end of that day’s battle.