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Shloka 7

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

कालाग्निमिव बीभत्सुं निर्दहन्तमिव प्रजा: । नारय: प्रेक्षितुं शेकुज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्‌,अर्जुन समस्त प्रजाका संहार करनेवाली प्रलयकालीन अग्निके समान शत्रुओंको भस्म कर रहे थे। वे मानो जलती आग हो रहे थे। शत्रु उनकी ओर आँख उठाकर देख भी नहीं पाते थे

kālāgnim iva bībhatsuṁ nirdahantam iva prajāḥ | nārayaḥ prekṣituṁ śekuḥ jvalantam iva pāvakam ||

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า—บีภัตสุ (อรชุน) ปรากฏดุจไฟแห่งกาลอวสานของจักรวาล แผดเผาทุกสิ่งเบื้องหน้า ประหนึ่งเปลวเพลิงที่ลุกโชน เขากำลังเผาผลาญกองทัพศัตรูจนเป็นเถ้า; ศัตรูถึงกับไม่อาจเงยหน้าขึ้นมองเขาได้

कालाग्निम्the fire of Time (doomsday fire)
कालाग्निम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकालाग्नि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
बीभत्सुम्Bībhatsu (Arjuna)
बीभत्सुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबीभत्सु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
निर्दहन्तम्burning up, consuming
निर्दहन्तम्:
TypeVerb
Rootनिर्दह्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)
इवas if/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
प्रजाःcreatures/people
प्रजाः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अरयःenemies
अरयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअरि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रेक्षितुम्to look at
प्रेक्षितुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-ईक्ष्
Formतुमुन् (infinitive)
शेकुःwere able
शेकुः:
TypeVerb
Rootशक्
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
ज्वलन्तम्blazing
ज्वलन्तम्:
TypeVerb
Rootज्वल्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)
इवlike
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
पावकम्fire
पावकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपावक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
B
Bībhatsu (Arjuna)
K
kālāgni (pralaya-fire)
P
pāvaka (fire)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the awe-inspiring force of a dharmic warrior in battle: when righteous duty demands action, the hero’s energy can appear overwhelming—like cosmic fire—instilling fear in those who oppose him.

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna (Bībhatsu) in a moment of intense combat, likening him to the pralaya-fire; he burns through the enemy ranks so fiercely that the opposing warriors cannot even look at him.