Shloka 20
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Bhīṣma’s Theological Explanation of Pāṇḍava Invincibility
Book 6, Chapter 61
पदाती रथिनं संख्ये रथी चापि पदातिनम् | न्यपातयच्छितै: शस्त्रै: सेनयोरुभयोरपि,दोनों ही सेनाओंमें पैदल वीर रथीको और रथी योद्धा पैदल सैनिकको अपने तीखे अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंद्वारा रणभूमिमें मार गिराता था
padātī rathinaṃ saṅkhye rathī cāpi padātinam | nyapātayacchitaiḥ śastraiḥ senayor ubhayor api ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Sa siksik ng labanan, ang mga mandirigmang naglalakad ay nagpapabagsak sa mga mandirigmang nasa karwaheng pandigma, at ang mga nasa karwahe naman ay gayundin ang ginagawa sa mga naglalakad, sa pamamagitan ng matatalim na sandata—sa magkabilang panig. Ipinakita ng tanawing iyon ang mabagsik na gantihan ng digmaan: ang ranggo at paraan ng pakikipaglaban ay hindi nagbibigay ng anumang kaligtasang moral; ang karahasan ay bumabalik bilang karahasan, at lalo pang umiigting sa isang siklo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the impartial, leveling nature of war: distinctions of status (infantry vs chariot-warrior) do not prevent mutual destruction. Ethically, it highlights how violence becomes reciprocal and widespread, warning that once dharma is eclipsed by battle-fury, suffering spreads across all ranks.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield where, amid intense fighting, infantrymen bring down chariot-fighters and chariot-fighters bring down infantrymen with sharp weapons—casualties occurring on both sides in equal measure.