Shloka 20
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Anxiety and Bhīṣma’s Theological Explanation of Pāṇḍava Invincibility
Book 6, Chapter 61
पदाती रथिनं संख्ये रथी चापि पदातिनम् | न्यपातयच्छितै: शस्त्रै: सेनयोरुभयोरपि,दोनों ही सेनाओंमें पैदल वीर रथीको और रथी योद्धा पैदल सैनिकको अपने तीखे अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंद्वारा रणभूमिमें मार गिराता था
padātī rathinaṃ saṅkhye rathī cāpi padātinam | nyapātayacchitaiḥ śastraiḥ senayor ubhayor api ||
三阇耶说道：在战阵的逼迫之中，步兵以锋利兵刃击倒战车武士，战车武士也同样以锐器斩落步兵——两军皆然。此景显出战争阴冷的相互报复：身份与战法并不带来任何道德上的豁免；暴力回返暴力，循环递增，愈演愈烈。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the impartial, leveling nature of war: distinctions of status (infantry vs chariot-warrior) do not prevent mutual destruction. Ethically, it highlights how violence becomes reciprocal and widespread, warning that once dharma is eclipsed by battle-fury, suffering spreads across all ranks.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield where, amid intense fighting, infantrymen bring down chariot-fighters and chariot-fighters bring down infantrymen with sharp weapons—casualties occurring on both sides in equal measure.