Shloka 6
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
महीवियद्दिगम्बूनां सर्वनाशमिवाद्धुतम् । कर्मणोरिव वैफल्यमुभयो: पुण्यपापयो:
mahīviyaddigambūnāṃ sarvanāśam ivādbhūtam | karmaṇor iva vaiphalyam ubhayoḥ puṇyapāpayoḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “O Hari, ito’y kagila-gilalas na parang ganap na pagkapuksa ng lupa, langit, mga panig, at mga tubig—na wari’y nawalan ng saysay kapwa ang gawaing may bisa ng kabutihan at ng kasalanan.” Gayon din, ang balitang napatay si Karṇa sa labanan ay halos di-mapaniniwalaan, na para bang ang kaayusang moral ay naibaligtad.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses cosmic-collapse imagery to express how shocking certain events feel when they seem to contradict one’s sense of moral causality (karma-phala). It highlights human bewilderment when the expected linkage between deeds (puṇya/pāpa) and outcomes appears to fail, especially amid the chaos of war.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the news of Karṇa’s fall as so unbelievable that it resembles imagining the destruction of the world-elements or the fruitlessness of both merit and sin. The simile prepares the emotional ground for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s shock and despair at the unraveling of the Kaurava cause.