Shloka 8
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
तत्रापि सुमहद् युद्ध घोररूपं विशाम्पते । प्राणान् संत्यजतां युद्धे प्राणद्यूताभिदेवने,प्रजानाथ! वहाँ भी जीवनका मोह छोड़कर प्राणोंकी बाजी लगाकर खेले जानेवाले युद्धरूपी जूएमें लगे हुए समस्त सैनिकोंमें घोर संग्राम हो रहा था
tatrāpi sumahad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ viśāmpate | prāṇān saṃtyajatāṃ yuddhe prāṇadyūtābhidevane ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: O panginoon ng bayan, doon man ay sumiklab ang isang napakalaki at nakapanghihilakbot na labanan—sa gitna ng mga mandirigmang tinalikuran na ang pagkakapit sa buhay at pumasok sa digmaan na wari’y sa isang sugal na ang pusta ay mismong hininga. Inilalarawan nito ang digmaan bilang madilim na “pagtataya,” kung saan ang buhay ay isinusugal at nawawala, at lalo nitong inilalantad ang sindak na bigat-moral ng labanan kahit ito’y nilalabanan nang may paninindigan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse casts war as a ‘life-stake gamble,’ highlighting the moral gravity and tragic cost of battle: even when warriors show fearlessness, the enterprise remains dreadful because lives are wagered and extinguished.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, in that sector as well, an immense and terrifying fight is underway, with soldiers fighting as if in a gaming hall where the stake is their own life-breath.