Shloka 15
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
महानुभावाश्न ततः प्रकाश- मालोक्य वीरा: सहसाभिपेतु: । रथी रथेनाभिहत: ससूतः: पपात साश्वः सरथ: सकेतु:
sañjaya uvāca |
mahānubhāvāś ca tataḥ prakāśam ālokya vīrāḥ sahasābhipetuḥ |
rathī rathenābhihataḥ sasūtaḥ papāta sāśvaḥ sarathaḥ saketuḥ ||
sa vāraṇarathaughānāṃ sahasrair bahubhir vṛtaḥ |
vājibhiḥ pattibhiś caiva vṛtaḥ śatasahasraśaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：随后，诸位威势非凡的勇士见那灿然光辉，便立刻蜂拥冲杀。一个车战士被另一辆战车撞击，连同御者一并坠落——马匹、战车与旗幡也随之倾覆。于那喧腾混战之中，他被成千上万的象群与密集的战车所围逼，又被骑兵与步兵以数十万之众重重包围。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of war: even the mighty can be suddenly brought down, and personal valor is fragile before the vast, impersonal surge of armed forces. It implicitly warns that when conflict escalates beyond restraint, outcomes become dominated by mass violence rather than individual righteousness.
Sañjaya describes a sudden charge after warriors behold a striking radiance. In the clash, a chariot-warrior is struck and falls along with his charioteer, horses, chariot, and banner, while the battlefield swells with dense formations of elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry surrounding the combatants.