Shloka 19
अध्याय ३१ — द्रोणानीके तुमुलसंग्रामः
The Tumultuous Battle around Droṇa’s Formation
ततो नीलो5नलप्रख्यो ददाह कुरुवाहिनीम् । शरस्फुलिड्जश्चापार्चिर्दहन् कक्षमिवानल:,तदनन्तर अग्निके समान कान्तिमान् नील बाणरूपी चिनगारियों तथा धनुषरूपी लपटोंका विस्तार करते हुए कौरव-सेनाको दग्ध करने लगे, मानो आग घास-फूसके ढेरको जला रही हो
tato nīlo'nalaprakhyo dadāha kuruvāhinīm | śarasphuliṅgaś cāpārciḥ dahan kakṣam ivānalaḥ ||
サञ्जयは語った。ついでニ―ラは、まさに火そのもののごとく燃えさかり、クル族の大軍を焼き払った――その矢は飛び散る火花、その弓は広がる炎のようで、乾いた草を野火が呑み尽くすがごとく軍勢を食らい尽くした。この光景は、戦の狂熱のただ中で、一人の戦士の憤怒と武威が戦場を分け隔てなき大火へと変え、味方も敵も等しく圧倒し、殺戮の道義的暗黒をいっそう深めることを示している。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a fire metaphor to highlight how warfare amplifies destructive power: a warrior’s skill can become a consuming blaze, reminding readers that unchecked fury and mass violence rapidly erase restraint and deepen adharma-like suffering on the battlefield.
Sañjaya describes the warrior Nīla attacking the Kaurava forces with overwhelming force. His arrows are compared to sparks and his bow to flames, as he ‘burns’ through the Kuru ranks like fire sweeping through dry grass.