Shloka 16
Virāṭa Rescued from Suśarmā; Night Battle and Royal Gratitude (विराटमोक्षणं सुशर्मवधाभिमुखं च)
सादिशभि: सादिनां चापि पदातीनां पदातिभि: । उपाशाम्यद् रजो भौम॑ रुधिरेण प्रसर्पता,वहाँ रथियोंका रथियोंसे, घुड़सवारोंका घुड़सवारोंसे और पैदल योद्धाओंका पैदलोंसे घमासान युद्ध होने लगा। सब ओर रक्तकी धारा बह चली और उसमें सनकर धरतीकी धूल शान्त हो गयी
sādiśabhiḥ sādināṃ cāpi padātīnāṃ padātibhiḥ | upaśāmyad rajo bhaumaṃ rudhireṇa prasarpatā ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രഥികൾ രഥികളോടും, അശ്വാരോഹികൾ അശ്വാരോഹികളോടും, പദാതികൾ പദാതികളോടും ഏറ്റുമുട്ടി; പടർന്നൊഴുകിയ രക്തം മൂലം ഭൂമിയിലെ പൊടിയും ശമിച്ചു।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the stark cost of warfare: when combat escalates, social and tactical distinctions (chariot, horse, foot) collapse into a single reality of suffering. It implicitly warns that victory is purchased with blood, and that the battlefield’s ‘order’ is maintained only through grave human loss.
A full-scale melee breaks out: chariot units engage chariot units, cavalry meets cavalry, and infantry fights infantry. The fighting is so intense that blood flows across the ground, soaking the soil and settling the dust that had been raised by the armies’ movement.