Shloka 566
न्यहनद् द्विषतां पूगान् गतासूनन्तको यथा । जैसे यमराज आयुरहित प्राणियोंके प्राण हर लेते हैं, उसी प्रकार धनुर्धरोंमें श्रेष्ठ पाण्ड्य युद्धस्थलमें नाना प्रकारके बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुसमूहोंका नाश कर रहे थे
nyahanad dviṣatāṃ pūgān gatāsūn antako yathā |
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଯେପରି ଅନ୍ତକ (ମୃତ୍ୟୁ) କାଳ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହୋଇଥିବା ପ୍ରାଣୀମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରିନେଇଥାଏ, ସେପରି ଧନୁର୍ଧରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପାଣ୍ଡ୍ୟ ରଣଭୂମିରେ ନାନାପ୍ରକାର ବାଣବର୍ଷାରେ ଶତ୍ରୁସମୂହକୁ ନିହତ କରୁଥିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the simile of Antaka (Death) to highlight the inevitability of death in war and the relentless momentum of battle once it is joined. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension: even when fighting is framed as kṣatriya-duty, its outcome resembles impersonal fate—life is taken swiftly, as if by Death itself.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍya warrior, famed for archery, is devastating enemy formations on the battlefield, felling groups of foes with many kinds of arrows, comparable to Death taking away lives.