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Shloka 116

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

रथैर्तताश्वसूतैश्व हतारोहैश्न वाजिभि:,रथोंके घोड़े और सारथि, घोड़ोंके सवार, हाथियोंके आरोही, महावत और स्वयं हाथी भी मारे गये थे। महाराज! इन सबने परस्पर प्रहार करके घोर जनसंहार मचा दिया था

rathair tathāśvasūtaiś ca hatārohāś ca vājibhiḥ |

Sañjaya thưa: Xe chiến cũng nằm tan nát, cùng với ngựa và người đánh xe; kỵ sĩ và chiến mã đều bị giết. Trong cuộc đụng độ ghê rợn ấy, đôi bên đánh trả nhau không chút kiềm chế, khiến chiến địa ngập trong một cuộc tàn sát lạnh lùng—hình ảnh sức nuốt chửng của chiến tranh và bóng tối đạo lý khi cơn cuồng nộ che lấp sự tỉnh thức.

रथैःby/with chariots
रथैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
तथाand also
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
अश्वसूतैःby/with horse-drivers (charioteers)
अश्वसूतैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्वसूत
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
हतारोहैःby/with slain riders (i.e., riders who were killed)
हतारोहैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहतारोह
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वाजिभिःby/with horses
वाजिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवाजिन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
C
chariots (ratha)
H
horses/steeds (vājin/aśva)
C
charioteers (sūta)
R
riders/mounted warriors (āroha)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the dehumanizing momentum of war: when mutual retaliation becomes the sole rule, destruction spreads to warriors and the very instruments of battle. Ethically, it warns how anger and vengeance can eclipse discrimination (viveka), producing collective ruin even when framed as kṣatriya-duty.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the intensity of the fighting: chariots, horses, charioteers, and mounted fighters are being cut down in large numbers. The description emphasizes a chaotic, reciprocal onslaught leading to severe carnage.