Shloka 216
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
निर्मुक्ताशीविषा भानां सम्पातो5भूत् सुदारुण: । प्रजानाथ! केंचुल छोड़कर निकले हुए सर्पोके समान निर्मल और सीधे जानेवाले नाराचोंका प्रहार वहाँ बड़ा भयंकर प्रतीत होता था
sañjaya uvāca |
nirmuktāśīviṣā bhānāṁ sampāto 'bhūt sudāruṇaḥ |
prajānātha! keñcula choḍakara nikale hue sarpoṁ ke samāna nirmala aura sīdhē jānevāle nārācoṁ kā prahāra vahāṁ baḍā bhayaṅkara pratīta hotā thā |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai pelindung manusia, di sana turunlah hujan anak panah yang amat dahsyat—laksana ular yang baru menanggalkan kulitnya, berkilau dan meluncur lurus dengan pantas. Hentaman nārāca yang bersih dan terbang lurus itu tampak menggerunkan di medan, menebalkan lagi kegelapan moral perang, tatkala kemahiran dan amarah menenggelamkan belas kasihan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrifying momentum of warfare: when martial prowess is unleashed, it can become an impersonal storm of destruction. Ethically, it highlights how battle magnifies fear and suffering, reminding the listener (the king) of the grave consequences that follow from choosing and sustaining war.
Sanjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra a fierce volley of arrows on the battlefield. The arrows are compared to snakes that have shed their skins—clean, gleaming, and straight in flight—making their collective impact seem especially dreadful.