Shloka 57
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
तयोस्तदभवद् युद्ध घोररूपं सुदारुणम् । ईक्षणप्रीतिजननं शुक्राड्रारकयोरिव,उन दोनोंका वह घोर एवं अत्यन्त भयंकर युद्ध शुक्र और मंगलके संघर्षकी भाँति नेत्रोंके लिये हर्ष उत्पन्न करनेवाला था
tayos tad abhavad yuddhaṁ ghorarūpaṁ sudāruṇam | īkṣaṇaprītijananaṁ śukrāṅgārakayor iva ||
Sañjaya berkata: Antara kedua-duanya tercetuslah pertempuran yang mengerikan, amat ganas dan kejam; namun, bagaikan pertembungan Zuhrah dan Marikh, ia menjadi tontonan yang mempesona mata.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral paradox central to the epic: warfare is inherently dreadful and destructive, yet it can appear visually thrilling. This warns against being seduced by the spectacle of violence and invites reflection on dharma—how perception and excitement can obscure ethical reality.
Sañjaya narrates to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a fierce combat has erupted between two warriors (contextually, the pair just mentioned in the surrounding verses). He characterizes the fight as terrifying in nature, while comparing its visual brilliance to the striking conjunction-like clash of the planets Venus and Mars.