Shloka 42
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
प्रादुरासीद् रजस्तीव्रं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । ध्वजानां धूयमानानां सहसा मातरिश्वना
prādurāsīd rajastīvraṃ na prājñāyata kiṃcana | dhvajānāṃ dhūyamānānāṃ sahasā mātariśvanā ||
सञ्जय उवाच— प्रादुरासीद् रजस्तीव्रं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । ध्वजानां धूयमानानां सहसा मातरिश्वना ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, clarity and discernment are quickly overwhelmed by sudden forces—symbolized by blinding dust and wind-tossed banners. Ethically, it underscores the confusion and instability that accompany violence, where right judgment becomes difficult and ominous signs multiply.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield as a sudden, intense dust cloud rises, obscuring visibility. At the same time, strong winds (personified as Mātariśvan/Vāyu) shake the armies’ banners, conveying the turbulent onset of combat and an atmosphere of foreboding.