Shloka 29
Bhīṣma’s Fall, the Arrow-bed (śara-talpa), and the Establishment of Guard
रथनागहयावर्ता महाघोरां सुदुर्गमाम् । रथेन संग्रामनदीं तरत्येष कपिध्वज:
sañjaya uvāca |
rathanāgahayāvartā mahāghorāṃ sudurgamām |
rathena saṅgrāmanadīṃ taratyeṣa kapidhvajaḥ ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു— “ഈ യുദ്ധനദി മഹാഭീകരവും കടക്കാൻ അത്യന്തം ദുഷ്കരവുമാണ്; അതിലെ ചുഴികൾ രഥങ്ങളും ആനകളും കുതിരകളും. എങ്കിലും കപിധ്വജനായ അർജുനൻ തന്റെ രഥത്തെ നൗകയാക്കി ആ യുദ്ധനദി കടക്കുന്നു.”
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.