Shloka 42
Chapter 89: Bhīma dispatched to protect Ghaṭotkaca amid escalating engagements
युध्यतां तु तथा तेषां कुर्वतां कर्म दुष्करम् । अस्तं गिरिमथारूढे अप्रकाशति भास्करे
yudhyatāṃ tu tathā teṣāṃ kurvatāṃ karma duṣkaram | astaṃ girim athārūḍhe aprakāśati bhāskare ||
三阇耶说道：当那些武士仍如此鏖战，显出艰难卓绝的勇功之时，太阳登上落山之岭，光辉遂息。白昼退去、黄昏合拢，战场的恐怖愈加深重——鲜血如可怖之河奔流，其岸边群豺聚集，皆为杀戮所引。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral gravity of war: even when warriors display extraordinary prowess, the coming of sunset symbolizes the inevitable limit of human action and the dark consequences that follow violence—suggesting reflection on dharma and the true cost of heroic deeds.
Sañjaya describes the battle continuing fiercely as evening arrives. The Sun sets, light fades, and the battlefield becomes more terrifying—evoked through imagery of blood flowing like a river and scavengers gathering—marking the transition from day’s combat to dusk’s ominous aftermath.