Shloka 40
शोणितोदां रथावर्ता हस्तिग्राहसमाकुलाम् । नरमीनाश्वनक्रान्तां केशशैवलशाद्धलाम्
śoṇitodāṁ rathāvartā hastigrāhasamākulām | naramīnāśvanakrāntāṁ keśaśaivalśād-dhalām ||
ସେ ନଦୀର ଜଳ ରକ୍ତ ଥିଲା; ରଥଚକ୍ର ଭଉଁରି ପରି ଲାଗୁଥିଲା; ହାତୀମାନେ ଗ୍ରାହ ପରି ଭିଡ଼ିଥିଲେ। ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ମାଛ ପରି, ଘୋଡ଼ା ନକ୍ର ପରି; ଏବଂ କେଶ ଶୈବାଳ ଓ ଘାସ ପରି ଦେଖାଯାଉଥିଲା।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the Vaitaraṇī metaphor to frame war’s moral testing: steadfastness and inner discipline (self-mastery) make even terrifying passages ‘crossable,’ while cowardice and lack of self-control render the same ordeal overwhelming. It implicitly praises courage aligned with dharma and warns that inner weakness magnifies fear.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra a horrific battlefield scene: Bhīma’s slaughter has produced a ‘river of blood’ filled with bodies, weapons, and war-gear, described through extended aquatic similes. The river is said to flow toward Yama’s realm, likened to the Vaitaraṇī that souls must cross.