Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
यमदण्डोपमां गुर्वीमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनाम् । अपश्याम महाराज रौद्रां विशसनीं गदाम्
yamadaṇḍopamāṁ gurvīm indrāśanisamasvanām | apaśyāma mahārāja raudrāṁ viśasanīṁ gadām ||
Санджая сказал: «О царь, мы узрели огромную, тяжёлую булаву — яростную, несущую гибель, словно сам жезл Ямы. Когда она обрушивалась, раздавался рёв, подобный громовому удару ваджры Индры».
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: weapons are portrayed with death-symbolism (Yama’s staff), reminding the listener that battlefield prowess carries the shadow of destruction and accountability, even when exercised under kṣatriya-duty.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he witnessed on the battlefield: a huge, terrifying mace whose impact sounded like Indra’s thunderbolt, emphasizing the overwhelming, death-dealing power present in the combat.