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Shloka 59

भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः

Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal

तेषां सुतुमुलं युद्ध व्यतिषक्तरथद्धिपम्‌ । अवर्तत महारीौद्रे निघध्नतामितरेतरम्‌,फिर तो एक-दूसरेपर प्रहार करते हुए उन सभी महारथियोमें अत्यन्त भयंकर तुमुल युद्ध होने लगा। रथोंसे रथ और हाथियोंसे हाथी भिड़ गये

teṣāṁ sutumulaṁ yuddhaṁ vyatiṣakta-ratha-dvipam | avartata mahāraudre nighnatām itaretaram ||

तेषां सुतुमुलं युद्धं व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम्। अवर्तत महारीौद्रे निघ्नतामितरेतरम्॥

तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, plural
सुतुमुलम्very tumultuous
सुतुमुलम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुतुमुल
Formneuter, nominative/accusative, singular
युद्धम्battle
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
Formneuter, nominative/accusative, singular
व्यतिषक्त-रथ-द्विपम्with chariots and elephants intermingled/entangled
व्यतिषक्त-रथ-द्विपम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootव्यतिषक्त (कृदन्त) + रथ + द्विप
Formneuter, nominative/accusative, singular
अवर्ततarose / took place / went on
अवर्तत:
TypeVerb
Rootवृत्
Formimperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular, ātmanepada
महारौद्रेin the exceedingly dreadful (scene)
महारौद्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहारौद्र
Formneuter, locative, singular
निघ्नताम्of (those) striking down / slaying
निघ्नताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनि-हन्
Formpresent active participle, masculine, genitive, plural
इतरेतरम्one another (reciprocally)
इतरेतरम्:
Karma
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootइतरेतर
Formmasculine, accusative, singular, reciprocal sense

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
C
chariots (ratha)
W
war-elephants (dvipa)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the terrifying momentum of war: once collective fury is unleashed, combat becomes mutual destruction, where instruments of power (chariots, elephants) entangle and ethical restraint is hard to maintain—highlighting the grave cost of adharma-driven conflict even within a kṣatriya setting.

Sañjaya describes the battle intensifying into a chaotic mêlée: chariots collide with chariots and elephants with elephants, and the warriors, locked together at close quarters, strike each other down in a dreadful, roaring combat.