Shloka 81
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
ततो मुहूर्तात् तेडपश्यन् रजो भीम॑ समुत्थितम्
tato muhūrtāt te 'paśyan rajo bhīmaṃ samutthitam
Então, após um breve intervalo, viram erguer-se uma terrível nuvem de poeira—um presságio ominoso no campo de batalha, sugerindo a aproximação ou o movimento de grandes forças e tornando ainda mais pesado o fardo moral do massacre que se desenrolava.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war’s momentum manifests in ominous signs—here, a fearsome dust-cloud—reminding the listener that violence escalates beyond individual control and deepens the ethical gravity of the conflict.
Sañjaya reports that, after a short time, those present observe a terrifying mass of dust rising, typically indicating rapid movement of troops, chariots, or a major engagement about to unfold.