Shloka 35
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Bhīṣma’s Theological Explanation of Pāṇḍava Invincibility
Book 6, Chapter 61
तथा ते समरे<न्योन्यं निध्नन्त:ः क्षत्रियर्षभा: | रक्तोक्षिता घोररूपा विरेजुर्दानवा इव,संग्रामभूमिमें एक-दूसरेको मारते हुए श्रेष्ठ क्षत्रिय वीर रक्तरंजित हो भयानक रूपधारी दानवोंके समान सुशोभित होने लगे
tathā te samare 'nyonyaṃ nighnantaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ | raktokṣitā ghorarūpā virejur dānavā iva ||
Sanjaya berkata: Demikianlah, dalam pertempuran itu, para pahlawan kṣatriya yang gagah bagaikan lembu jantan saling menewaskan. Berlumuran darah dan berwajah menggerunkan, mereka tampak bersinar di medan perang laksana dāṇava (asura).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even the noblest kṣatriya heroes, when mutually slaughtering in battle, can appear terrifying—likened to dānavas—implying that violence can eclipse human dignity and transform valor into horror.
Sanjaya describes the ongoing combat where leading kṣatriya warriors strike each other down. Covered in blood and fearsome in appearance, they stand out on the battlefield, compared to dānavas for their dreadful, awe-inspiring look.