Shloka 15
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
महानुभावाश्न ततः प्रकाश- मालोक्य वीरा: सहसाभिपेतु: । रथी रथेनाभिहत: ससूतः: पपात साश्वः सरथ: सकेतु:
sañjaya uvāca |
mahānubhāvāś ca tataḥ prakāśam ālokya vīrāḥ sahasābhipetuḥ |
rathī rathenābhihataḥ sasūtaḥ papāta sāśvaḥ sarathaḥ saketuḥ ||
sa vāraṇarathaughānāṃ sahasrair bahubhir vṛtaḥ |
vājibhiḥ pattibhiś caiva vṛtaḥ śatasahasraśaḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Pagkaraan, nang makita ng mga makapangyarihang bayani ang maningning na liwanag na iyon, bigla silang sumugod. Isang mandirigmang nasa karwahe, nang masalpok ng isa pang karwahe, ay bumagsak—kasama ang kanyang kutsero—pati ang mga kabayo, ang karwahe, at ang watawat. Sa gitna ng kaguluhan, siya’y naipit sa libu-libong elepante at sa nag-uumapaw na hanay ng mga karwahe, at napaliligiran din ng kabalyeriya at impanterya na umaabot sa daan-daang libo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: even the mighty can be suddenly brought down, and personal valor is fragile before the vast, impersonal surge of armed forces. It implicitly warns that when conflict escalates beyond restraint, outcomes become dominated by mass violence rather than individual righteousness.
Sañjaya describes a sudden charge after warriors behold a striking radiance. In the clash, a chariot-warrior is struck and falls along with his charioteer, horses, chariot, and banner, while the battlefield swells with dense formations of elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry surrounding the combatants.