Shloka 253
प्राच्छादयेतामन्योन्यं तक्षमाणौ महेषुभि: । वे दोनों भयंकर टंकार करनेवाले अत्यन्त वेगशाली धनुष लेकर बड़े-बड़े बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको क्षत-विक्षत करते हुए आच्छादित करने लगे
prācchādayetām anyonyaṃ takṣamāṇau maheṣubhiḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—तौ घोरटङ्कारधनुषौ अतिवेगौ महेषुभिः परस्परं तक्षमाणौ अन्योन्यमाच्छादयेताम्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s sober view of warfare: even when framed as kṣatriya-duty, battle rapidly becomes mutual harm and escalation. It invites reflection on how dharma in war is constrained by necessity yet shadowed by suffering and moral cost.
Sañjaya describes two opposing warriors in a fierce archery exchange. With fast, loudly twanging bows, they shower each other with powerful arrows, effectively ‘covering’ one another while inflicting repeated wounds.