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Shloka 166

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्

The Tumult of Battle Described

अदृश्यत महारीौद्रा गदा नागाश्चव॒पातनी । हाथियों और घोड़ोंको मार गिरानेवाली उनकी वह गदा भी मज्जा, वसा, मांस तथा रक्तमें सनकर बड़ी भयानक दिखायी देती थी

adṛśyata mahāraudrā gadā nāgāś ca vapātanī |

サンジャヤは言った。「そのガダー(棍棒)は、象すら打ち倒す凶器として、ことのほか恐ろしい姿で現れた。骨髄、脂、肉、そして血にまみれ、見る者を戦慄させる。そこには、戦の残虐で人間性を奪う奔流と、その力を振るう者が負う法(ダルマ)の重みが刻まれていた。」

अदृश्यतwas seen; appeared
अदृश्यत:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Ātmanepada, Ātmanepada
महाgreat
महा:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
रौद्राterrible, fierce
रौद्रा:
TypeAdjective
Rootरौद्र
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
गदाmace
गदा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगदा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
नागान्elephants
नागान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अश्वhorses
अश्व:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अवपातनीcausing to fall down; felling
अवपातनी:
TypeAdjective
Rootअवपातनी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
G
gadā (mace)
N
nāga (elephant)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the terrifying reality of war: weapons become symbols of moral burden as they are stained with the bodily remains of the slain. It implicitly invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty versus the ethical cost of violence.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra a vivid battlefield sight: a fearsome mace capable of felling elephants, now smeared with marrow, fat, flesh, and blood, appearing especially dreadful amid the carnage.