द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
निर्दहन्तौ महाराज श्त्रवृष्ट्या परस्परम्
nirdahantau mahārāja śastravṛṣṭyā parasparam
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, kedua-dua pahlawan itu seolah-olah saling membakar—mencurahkan hujan senjata antara satu sama lain. Baris ini menegaskan bagaimana keganasan medan perang menukar kemahiran tempur menjadi kebinasaan bersama, apabila keperkasaan dan amarah mengatasi segala kendali diri.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical cost of unchecked martial fury: when combat becomes a mutual ‘burning,’ skill serves destruction rather than dharma, reminding the listener that war’s momentum can overwhelm restraint and compassion.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that two opposing fighters are locked in an intense exchange, pelting each other with weapons like a torrential rain, each trying to overpower and ‘consume’ the other.