Shloka 29
Bhīṣma’s Fall, the Arrow-bed (śara-talpa), and the Establishment of Guard
रथनागहयावर्ता महाघोरां सुदुर्गमाम् । रथेन संग्रामनदीं तरत्येष कपिध्वज:,“यह युद्ध एक महाघोर और अत्यन्त दुर्गण नदीके समान है। उसमें रथ, हाथी और घोड़े भँवर हैं, कपिध्वज अर्जुन रथरूपी नौकाके द्वारा इसे पार कर रहे हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
rathanāgahayāvartā mahāghorāṃ sudurgamām |
rathena saṅgrāmanadīṃ taratyeṣa kapidhvajaḥ ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— “ಈ ಯುದ್ಧನದಿ ಮಹಾಭಯಂಕರವೂ ದಾಟಲು ದುರ್ಗಮವೂ ಆಗಿದೆ; ಇದರ ಸುಳಿಗಳು ರಥಗಳು, ಆನೆಗಳು, ಕುದುರೆಗಳು. ಆದರೂ ಕಪಿಧ್ವಜನಾದ ಅರ್ಜುನನು ತನ್ನ ರಥವನ್ನೇ ದೋಣಿಯನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಆ ಯುದ್ಧನದಿಯನ್ನು ದಾಟುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as a perilous river whose dangers are the very instruments of combat; it highlights steadfast courage and disciplined agency—crossing danger through skill, resolve, and rightful kṣatriya duty rather than being swept away by fear.
Sañjaya, narrating the battlefield to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, depicts Arjuna (Kapidhvaja) advancing through the terrifying press of battle, using the chariot as the means to ‘cross’ the war-river filled with swirling threats of chariots, elephants, and horses.