Shloka 42
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
प्रादुरासीद् रजस्तीव्रं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । ध्वजानां धूयमानानां सहसा मातरिश्वना
prādurāsīd rajastīvraṃ na prājñāyata kiṃcana | dhvajānāṃ dhūyamānānāṃ sahasā mātariśvanā ||
សញ្ជ័យបាននិយាយថា៖ «ភ្លាមៗ មានធូលីដ៏ខ្លាំងក្លាបក់ឡើង ធ្វើឲ្យមើលមិនឃើញអ្វីច្បាស់ឡើយ។ ទង់ជ័យទាំងឡាយ ត្រូវខ្យល់បក់វាយ ញ័ររង្គើរភ្លាមៗ ហើយត្រូវគេបោះបង់ឲ្យរវើរវាយយ៉ាងខ្លាំង—ជាសញ្ញាអមង្គលមួយក្នុងការប៉ះទង្គិចដែលកំពុងប្រមូលផ្តុំ»។
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, clarity and discernment are quickly overwhelmed by sudden forces—symbolized by blinding dust and wind-tossed banners. Ethically, it underscores the confusion and instability that accompany violence, where right judgment becomes difficult and ominous signs multiply.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield as a sudden, intense dust cloud rises, obscuring visibility. At the same time, strong winds (personified as Mātariśvan/Vāyu) shake the armies’ banners, conveying the turbulent onset of combat and an atmosphere of foreboding.