Shloka 9
चतुरजड्भस्य सैन्यस्य सम्पातश्न॒ महानभूत् | इसी प्रकार रथी श्रेष्ठ रथियोंके साथ प्रसन्नतापूर्वक युद्ध करने लगे। उस भयंकर प्रदोषकालमें आपके पुत्रकी आज्ञासे वहाँ चतुरंगिणी सेनामें भारी मारकाट मच गयी ।। ततोडर्जुनो महाराज कौरवाणामनीकिनीम्
sañjaya uvāca | catur-aṅgasya sainyasya sampātaḥ mahān abhūt | tathā rathī-śreṣṭhā rathibhiḥ saha prasannatayā yuddhaṃ cakruḥ | tasmin bhīṣaṇe pradoṣa-kāle tava putrasya ājñayā tatra catur-aṅgiṇyāṃ senāyāṃ bhārī mārakāṭaḥ samajāyata || tato 'rjuno mahārāja kauravāṇām anīkinīm ... ||
サンジャヤは言った。「四部軍のただ中に、凄まじい激突が起こった。同じくして、最上の戦車武者たちは他の戦車武者と、猛き決意をもって戦いを交えた。恐るべき黄昏の刻、汝の子の命により、四部軍の陣中で大いなる殺戮が巻き起こった。やがて、王よ、アルジュナはカウラヴァ軍の戦列へと進み出た……」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a leader’s command can intensify collective violence: Duryodhana’s order precipitates widespread slaughter. Ethically, it underscores responsibility in warfare—decisions at the top shape the scale of harm, even when warriors act within kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that at dusk a massive clash erupts in the fourfold armies; chariot-warriors engage one another, and under Duryodhana’s command heavy killing spreads. The narration then turns to Arjuna moving against the Kaurava battle-array.