Shloka 5
Virāṭa Rescued from Suśarmā; Night Battle and Royal Gratitude (विराटमोक्षणं सुशर्मवधाभिमुखं च)
देवासुरसमो राजन्नासीत् सूर्येडवलम्बति । पदातिरथनागेन्द्रहयारोहबलौघवान्,राजन! सूर्य पश्चिमकी ओर ढल रहे थे। उस समय पैदल, रथी, हाथीसवार तथा घुड़सवारोंके समूहसे भरा हुआ वह युद्ध देवासुरसंग्रामके समान हो रहा था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — devāsura-samo rājann āsīt sūrye ’valambati | padāti-ratha-nāgendra-hayāroha-balaughavān ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Raja, ketika matahari condong ke barat, pertempuran itu membesar seperti perang para dewa melawan asura—padat dengan gerombolan infantri, pemandu kereta perang, penunggang gajah, dan pasukan berkuda.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the overwhelming, almost cosmic scale of war and implicitly cautions that when conflict escalates through sheer force and numbers, it can resemble primordial strife; leaders and witnesses must retain discernment and restraint even amid such intensity.
As evening approaches and the sun declines westward, the fighting intensifies; the battlefield is crowded with combined arms—infantry, chariots, elephants, and cavalry—so that the clash is compared to the legendary war between gods and demons.