Mahabharata 7.16.16 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 16, Shloka 16
Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)
तदा<<सीत् तुमुल॑ युद्ध निध्नतामितरेतरम् । महाबलानां बलिभिरर्दानवानां यथा सुरै:
sañjaya uvāca | tadā 'bhūt tumulaṁ yuddhaṁ nighnatām itaretaram | mahābalānāṁ balibhir dānavānāṁ yathā suraiḥ ||
అప్పుడు పరస్పరం ఒకరినొకరు కూల్చుతూ దాడి చేసిన ఆ మహాబలవంతుల మధ్య ఘోరమైన కలహయుద్ధం చెలరేగింది—పూర్వకాలంలో దేవతలతో బలవంతులైన దానవుల యుద్ధంలాగా।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the tragic symmetry of war: when equally powerful sides collide, valor becomes mutual ruin. By comparing human battle to the mythic Suras–Dānavas conflict, it frames warfare as a recurring pattern driven by power and hostility, inviting reflection on the ethical cost of such contests.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield turning intensely chaotic as mighty warriors strike each other down. He heightens the scale through a cosmic comparison: it resembles the legendary battles between the gods (Suras) and the Dānavas.
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