Shloka 4
रथानीकं नरव्याप्रा: केचिदभ्यपतन् रथै: । अभज्यन्त युगैरेव युगानि भरतर्षभ,कुछ नरश्रेष्ठ वीर अपने रथोंद्वारा शत्रुपक्षकी रथ-सेनापर टूट पड़े। भरतश्रेष्ठ! कितने ही रथोंके जूए विपक्षी रथोंके जूओंसे ही टकराकर टूट गये
rathānīkaṃ naravyāprāḥ kecid abhyapatan rathaiḥ | abhajyanta yugair eva yugāni bharatarṣabha ||
सञ्जय उवाच— केचिन्नरव्याप्राः शूरा रथैः शत्रुरथानीकमभ्यपतन्। भरतर्षभ, बहूनि युगानि युगैरेवाभज्यन्त।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic’s realism about war: courage and martial intent drive men forward, yet outcomes are also shaped by material force and collision—highlighting the grave cost and uncontrollable momentum of armed conflict.
Sañjaya describes a surge of warriors charging into the opposing chariot ranks; the fighting is so close that chariot-yokes collide and break, conveying the intensity and congestion of the battlefield.