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Shloka 2

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

न पुत्र: पितरं जज्ञे पिता वा पुत्रमौरसम्‌ | न क्षाता क्रातरं तत्र स्वस्रीयं न च मातुल:,न पुत्र पिताको पहचानता था, न पिता अपने औरस पुत्रको। न भाई भाईको जानता था, न मामा अपने भानजेको

na putraḥ pitaraṃ jajñe pitā vā putram aurasam | na bhrātā bhrātaraṃ tatra svasrīyaṃ na ca mātulaḥ ||

Sañjaya thưa: Trong cơn hỗn loạn ấy, con chẳng nhận ra cha, cha cũng chẳng nhận ra đứa con chính thống của mình. Anh em không nhận ra nhau nơi đó; đến cả cậu ruột cũng không nhận ra con trai của chị em mình. Sự rối loạn và cuồng nộ của chiến trận đã lấn át mọi dây ràng huyết thống, khiến bổn phận và sự nhận biết trong gia tộc bị che khuất trước sự cấp bách của sinh tồn và giao tranh.

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पुत्रःson
पुत्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पितरम्father
पितरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जज्ञेknew/recognized
जज्ञे:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
पिताfather
पिता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पुत्रम्son
पुत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
औरसम्legitimate (born of one’s own body)
औरसम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootऔरस
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
क्षाताbrother (lit. one who shares the same kṣa/lineage; here: brother)
क्षाता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षातृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
क्रातरम्brother
क्रातरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्रातृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
स्वस्रीयम्sister’s son (nephew)
स्वस्रीयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वस्रीय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मातुलःmaternal uncle
मातुलः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमातुल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
F
father
S
son
B
brother
M
maternal uncle
S
sister’s son (nephew)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how extreme violence and confusion can erase ordinary moral and social recognition—family bonds and the duties they imply become obscured. It serves as a warning about war’s power to dissolve dharmic relationships and humane perception.

Sañjaya describes the battlefield condition during the Kurukṣetra war: the fighting is so intense and disorienting that close relatives cannot identify one another—sons and fathers, brothers, and even maternal uncles and nephews fail to recognize their kin amid the melee.