Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 963

Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout

अकरोच्छिबिरे तेषां रजन्यां द्विगुणं तम:ः । उन दौड़ते हुए घोड़ों और हाथियोंने अपने पैरोंसे जो धूल उड़ायी थी, उसने पाण्डवोंके शिविरमें रात्रिके अन्धकारको दुगुना कर दिया

sañjaya uvāca | akaroc chibire teṣāṃ rajanyāṃ dviguṇaṃ tamaḥ |

Disse Sañjaya: No acampamento deles, durante a noite, a escuridão tornou-se duas vezes mais densa—adensada pela poeira levantada sob os pés dos cavalos e elefantes em disparada. A cena mostra que a violência da guerra não atinge apenas os corpos; ela também turva a percepção e intensifica o terror e a obscuridade moral de um ataque noturno.

अकरोत्made, did
अकरोत्:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (करणे)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), 3, singular, Parasmaipada
शिबिरेin the camp
शिबिरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशिबिर
Formneuter, locative, singular
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, plural
रजन्याम्in the night
रजन्याम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरजनी
Formfeminine, locative, singular
द्विगुणम्twofold, doubled
द्विगुणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootद्विगुण
Formneuter, accusative, singular
तमःdarkness
तमः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतमस्
Formneuter, accusative, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
C
camp (śibira)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how war amplifies not only physical danger but also psychological and moral darkness—confusion, fear, and loss of clarity—especially in a night assault where visibility and discernment are diminished.

Sañjaya describes the night-time conditions in the camp: dust raised by fast-moving horses and elephants thickens the darkness, creating an atmosphere suited to stealth, panic, and sudden violence.