Shloka 166
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — इरावान्-आवन्त्ययोः युद्धम्, घटोत्कच-भगदत्त-संघर्षः, मद्रेश्वर-विक्षेपः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Irāvān vs the Avanti princes; Ghaṭotkaca vs Bhagadatta; Śalya checked by the Mādrī twins
अपारमिव गर्जन्तं सागरप्रतिमं महत् । ध्वज और आभूषणोंसे भरी हुई यह सेना रत्नजटित पताकाओंसे व्याप्त है। दौड़ते हुए घोड़ोंसे जो इस सेनाका चंचल होना है
apāram iva garjantaṃ sāgara-pratimaṃ mahat |
Sanjaya berkata: “Ia mengaum seolah-olah tiada bertepi—luas, besar dan perkasa, laksana lautan itu sendiri. Angkatan yang sarat dengan panji-panji dan perhiasan, serta dipenuhi bendera bertatah permata, tampak seperti samudera yang bergerak; gelora resah yang ditimbulkan oleh kuda-kuda yang menerjang itu bagaikan lautan bergetar di bawah hembusan angin. Pada pandangan mata, ia kelihatan tidak terukur, dan dentuman gemuruhnya tidak pernah reda.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily conveys the overwhelming scale and momentum of war: a vast host can appear ‘boundless’ like the ocean, and its collective noise and movement create fear and awe. Ethically, it underscores how war magnifies human power into a force of nature—suggesting the need for steadiness, discernment, and responsibility when confronting mass violence.
Sanjaya is reporting to Dhritarashtra the sight and sound of the assembled/advancing army. He uses an ocean simile: jewel-studded banners spread like waves across a sea, and the pounding of running horses makes the host ‘tremble’ like the ocean shaken by strong winds, all while it continually roars.