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Shloka 186

तथा तव महासैन्यं प्रास्फुरच्छरपीडितम्‌ । जैसे रात्रिकालमें किसी महान्‌ पर्वतपर बाँसोंका वन जल रहा हो, उसी प्रकार अर्जुनके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हुई आपकी विशाल सेना आगकी लपटोंसे घिरी हुई-सी प्रतीत हो रही थी

tathā tava mahāsainyaṁ prāsphuraccharapīḍitam |

Санджая сказал: «И потому твоё великое войско, поражаемое и терзаемое стрелами Арджуны, казалось пылающим и дрожащим — словно огромная гора ночью, на которой горит бамбуковый лес». Этот образ подчёркивает нравственную тяжесть войны: когда упорствует честолюбие, ведомое адхармой, даже могучая рать может выглядеть беспомощной перед дисциплинированной доблестью и праведной решимостью.

तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
तवof you, your
तव:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
महा-सैन्यम्the great army
महा-सैन्यम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहा + सैन्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
प्रास्फुरत्quivering, trembling
प्रास्फुरत्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्फुर्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
शर-पीडितम्afflicted by arrows
शर-पीडितम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootशर + पीडित
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
A
Arjuna
K
Kaurava army (tava mahāsainyam)
A
Arjuna’s arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the fragility of sheer numbers and pride in war: a vast force, when morally and strategically outmatched, can appear as vulnerable as a fire-engulfed landscape. It implicitly warns that power without dharmic grounding and disciplined leadership collapses under sustained righteous prowess.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava host is being intensely struck by Arjuna’s arrows. The army’s agitation and apparent ‘burning’ are conveyed through a vivid simile: like a bamboo forest on a mountain blazing at night.