Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
ते तु बाणमयं वर्ष शड्खमूर्थ्नि न््यपातयन् | निदाघान्ते5निलोद्धूता मेघा इव नगे जलम्
te tu bāṇamayaṁ varṣaṁ śaṅkhamūrdhni nyapātayan | nidāghānte 'niloddhūtā meghā iva nage jalam ||
تب اُنہوں نے شَنگھ کے سر پر تیروں کی بارش برسا دی—گویا گرمی کے اختتام پر ہوا کے ہانکے ہوئے بادل کسی پہاڑ پر پانی انڈেল رہے ہوں۔
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the overwhelming, almost natural-force character of warfare: when conflict escalates, actions become like storms—testing steadiness, courage, and adherence to one’s duty even amid fear and harm.
A group of warriors begins a concentrated barrage of arrows aimed at Śaṅkha’s head. Sañjaya describes it through a vivid simile: wind-driven clouds at summer’s end pouring rain on a mountain.