Shloka 43
Bhīmasena–Drauṇi Mahāyuddha
Chariot Duel and Astra-Exchange
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं नरवारणवाजिनाम् । रथानां च महाराज अन्योन्यमभिनिधघ्नताम्,महाराज! तदनन्तर एक-दूसरेपर आघात करनेवाले मनुष्य, हाथी, घोड़ों और रथोंका वह महान् युद्ध आरम्भ हो गया
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ naravāraṇavājinām | rathānāṃ ca mahārāja anyonyam abhinighnatām ||
Sañjaya disse: Então, ó rei, começou a grande batalha—homens, elefantes, cavalos e carros de guerra golpeando-se mutuamente em assalto recíproco.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how once war is unleashed it rapidly becomes a self-propelling cycle of mutual harm across all divisions of an army. Ethically, it highlights the tension between kṣatriya ideals of valor/duty and the grim reality of collective violence that engulfs humans and animals alike.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the battle has fully commenced: warriors, elephants, horses, and chariots are now engaged in direct, reciprocal attacks, signaling an intensification of the fighting in the Karṇa Parva context.