Shloka 23
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
तस्मिन्नत्याकुले युद्धे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे
tasminn atyākule yuddhe dāruṇe lomaharṣaṇe | jighāṃsantaṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭha tadā āsīt tumulaṃ mahat ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “Sa digmaang iyon—lubhang magulo, malupit, at nakapangingilabot—nang ang pinakadakila sa mga mandirigma ay salakayin na may hangaring patayin, sumiklab ang isang napakalaki at magulong labanan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: once the intent becomes outright killing of the foremost warrior, the battlefield turns into uncontrolled turmoil. It highlights how quickly conflict escalates when protection of allies and the urge to eliminate a key opponent dominate judgment.
Sañjaya describes a moment in the Bhīṣma-focused war narrative where the fighting becomes extremely chaotic and terrifying. With warriors pressing forward intending to slay the leading fighter, a massive, tumultuous engagement erupts.