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, वही वायुवेगसे इस समुद्रका कम्पन है। सागरसदूश यह विशाल सेना देखनेमें अपार है और निरन्तर गर्जन करती रहती है
apāram iva garjantaṃ sāgara-pratimaṃ mahat |
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେ ସେନା ଅପାର ଭଳି ଗର୍ଜନ କରୁଥିଲା; ମହା ସାଗର ସମାନ ବିଶାଳ ଓ ପ୍ରବଳ ଦେଖାଯାଉଥିଲା। ଧ୍ୱଜ ଓ ଆଭୂଷଣରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ରତ୍ନଜଟିତ ପତାକାରେ ବ୍ୟାପ୍ତ ସେ ସେନା ଯେନ ଚଳମାନ ସମୁଦ୍ର। ଧାଉଥିବା ଘୋଡ଼ାମାନଙ୍କ ଚଞ୍ଚଳ ଉଛ୍ଛ୍ୱାସ ଥିଲା ବାୟୁବେଗରେ କମ୍ପିତ ସାଗରର ଥରଥରାଣି ପରି। ଦେଖିବାକୁ ସେ ସାଗରସଦୃଶ ମହାସେନା ଅପରିମେୟ, ଏବଂ ତାହାର ଘୋର ନିନାଦ ଅବିରତ ଚାଲିଥିଲା।
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.