Shloka 8
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
तत्रापि सुमहद् युद्ध घोररूपं विशाम्पते । प्राणान् संत्यजतां युद्धे प्राणद्यूताभिदेवने
tatrāpi sumahad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ viśāmpate | prāṇān saṃtyajatāṃ yuddhe prāṇadyūtābhidevane ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai tuan rakyat, di sana juga berkecamuk pertempuran yang amat besar dan menggerunkan—di tengah para pahlawan yang menanggalkan keterikatan pada hidup, lalu memasuki medan perang seolah-olah ke gelanggang judi, dengan taruhannya ialah nafas sendiri. Gambaran itu menempatkan perang sebagai “pertaruhan” yang kelam, menegaskan ngeri etika pertumpahan darah walau diperjuangkan dengan tekad.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse casts war as a ‘life-stake gamble,’ highlighting the moral gravity and tragic cost of battle: even when warriors show fearlessness, the enterprise remains dreadful because lives are wagered and extinguished.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, in that sector as well, an immense and terrifying fight is underway, with soldiers fighting as if in a gaming hall where the stake is their own life-breath.