Shloka 85
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
गाधेन चाप्लवन्तक्ष निमज्ज्योन्मज्य चापरे | विजयकी अभिलाषा रखनेवाले कितने ही वीर जहाँ थोड़ा रक्तमय जल था वहाँ तैरकर और जहाँ अथाह था वहाँ गोते लगा-लगाकर उसके दूसरे पार पहुँच जाते थे ।।
gāḍhena cāplavantakṣa nimajjyomajyaca apare | vijayakī abhilāṣā rakhanevāle kitane hī vīr yatra thoḍā raktamaya jala thā tatra tairitvā yatra athāha thā tatra gote lāga-lāgakara tasya dvitīya pāraṃ prāpnuvanti sma || te tu lohitadigdhāḍyā raktavarmāyudhāmbarāḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ବିଜୟର ଆକାଂକ୍ଷାରେ ପ୍ରେରିତ ଅନେକ ବୀର ଯେଉଁଠି ରକ୍ତମୟ ଜଳ ଅଳ୍ପ ଥିଲା ସେଠି ପହଁରି, ଯେଉଁଠି ତାହା ଗଭୀର ଓ ଅଥାହ ଥିଲା ସେଠି ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ଡୁବି ଉଠି, ଶେଷରେ ଅପର ପାରକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିଗଲେ। ସେମାନେ ରକ୍ତରେ ଲେପିତ; ସେମାନଙ୍କର କବଚ, ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ଓ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ସବୁ ଲାଲ—ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ଭୟଙ୍କର ମୂଲ୍ୟର ଚିତ୍ର ଭଳି।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how the thirst for victory can drive people to press forward even through horrific conditions, revealing war’s moral and human cost: courage and determination appear alongside the tragic normalization of bloodshed.
Sañjaya describes warriors crossing a blood-filled stretch—swimming where it is shallow and repeatedly diving and resurfacing where it is deep—until they reach the opposite bank, all of them smeared and clothed in blood-red armour and weapons.