Shloka 71
Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)
शरशक्तिमहाखड्गतोमराक्षां महाभयाम् | प्राविशन् कितवा मन्दा: सभां युद्धदुरासदाम्
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | śaraśakti-mahākhaḍga-tomara-ṛkṣāṃ mahābhayām | prāviśan kitavā mandāḥ sabhāṃ yuddha-durāsadām ||
ശരങ്ങളും ശക്തികളും മഹാഖഡ്ഗങ്ങളും തോമരങ്ങളും ഋക്ഷങ്ങളും നിറഞ്ഞ് ഭീതിജനകമായ—യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ദുർലഭമായ ആ മഹാസഭയിൽ ആ മന്ദബുദ്ധി കിതവർ പ്രവേശിച്ചു.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the entrants as “kitava” (gamblers) and “mandāḥ” (foolish), suggesting ethical censure: reckless, deceit-associated impulses lead one into spaces of danger and violence. It hints at how moral weakness (addiction to gambling, poor judgment) can precipitate catastrophic conflict.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes certain men entering a formidable hall/arena characterized by weapons and fear, difficult to storm in battle. The imagery emphasizes a transition from courtly space to a warlike, perilous setting, underscoring the escalation toward armed confrontation.