Shloka 33
यथा दैत्यचमूं शक्रस्तापयामास संयुगे | तथा भीष्म: पाण्डवेयांस्तापयामास भारत,भारत! जैसे पूर्वकालमें देवराज इन्द्रने संग्रामभूमिमें दैत्योंकी सेनाको संतप्त किया था, उसी प्रकार भीष्मजी पाण्डवयोद्धाओंको संताप दे रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | yathā daityacamūṃ śakrastāpayāmāsa saṃyuge | tathā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍaveyāṃstāpayāmāsa bhārata ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Bhārata! Seperti Śakra (Indra) dahulu dalam pertempuran membakar hangus bala tentera Dānava, demikian juga kini Bhīṣma membakar para pahlawan Pāṇḍava.” Rangkap ini menyamakan serangan Bhīṣma dengan daya yang sebanding ketuhanan—meninggikan ketegangan moral perang, ketika keperkasaan dan dharma bergerak di tengah-tengah harga kemanusiaan yang pedih.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how overwhelming martial power can resemble divine force, yet it also intensifies the ethical weight of war: even when a warrior acts within kṣatriya-duty, the result is real torment and suffering for opponents. The epic invites reflection on duty performed amid tragic consequences.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma is dominating the battlefield, afflicting the Pāṇḍava fighters. He illustrates Bhīṣma’s impact through a comparison to Indra scorching the Daitya host in a mythic battle.