Mahabharata 9.23.84 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 23, Shloka 84
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
तथोत्थितेषु बहुषु कबन्धेषु नराधिप | तथा रुधिरगन्धेन योधा: कश्मलमाविशन्,नरेश्वर! फिर उस तरहके बहुत-से कबन्ध उठे दिखायी देने लगे तथा रुधिरकी गन्धसे प्राय: सभी योद्धाओंपर मोह छा गया था
tathotthiteṣu bahuṣu kabandheṣu narādhipa | tathā rudhiragandhena yodhāḥ kaśmalam āviśan ||
សញ្ជ័យបាននិយាយថា៖ «ឱ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ! ពេលឃើញកបន្ធជាច្រើនលើកឡើងដូច្នោះ ឈាមក្លិនសាយពេញសមរភូមិ; ហើយដោយក្លិននោះ យោធាទាំងឡាយត្រូវសេចក្តីវង្វេងស្មារតី និងភាពស្រពិចស្រពិលគ្របដណ្តប់»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and psychological cost of war: when violence becomes overwhelming, even seasoned warriors are shaken by kaśmala—confusion and moral-mental collapse—prompting reflection on the gravity of adharma-driven slaughter and the fragility of human resolve.
Sañjaya describes a terrifying battlefield scene to the king: numerous kabandhas (headless bodies) appear to rise and move, and the pervasive smell of blood causes the warriors to be overcome by bewilderment and dread.
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