Shloka 17
अष्टादश दिनान्यद्य युद्धस्यास्य जनार्दन | वर्तमानस्य महतः समासाद्य परस्परम्,“जनार्दन! आप स्वस्थचित्त होकर इन घोड़ोंको हाँकिये और इस सैन्यसागरमें प्रवेश कीजिये। आज मैं तीखे बाणोंसे शत्रुओंका अन्त कर डालूँगा। परस्पर भिड़कर इस महान् संग्रामके आरम्भ हुए आज अठारह दिन हो गये
sañjaya uvāca |
aṣṭādaśa dināny adya yuddhasyāsya janārdana |
vartamānasya mahataḥ samāsādya parasparam ||
“ଜନାର୍ଦନ! ପରସ୍ପର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହୋଇ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏହି ମହାଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଚାଲିଥିବାରେ ଆଜି ଅଠାର ଦିନ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେଲା।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily functions as a narrative marker: it underscores the relentless continuity of violence and the irreversible accumulation of consequences over time—an implicit ethical reminder in the Mahābhārata that prolonged conflict magnifies loss and moral burden.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the great war has reached its eighteenth day, emphasizing that the armies have been locked in mutual engagement and that the battle has continued up to the present moment.