amī cha tvāṁ dhṛitarāśhtrasya putrāḥ
sarve sahaivāvani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ
bhīṣhmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras tathāsau
sahāsmadīyair api yodha-mukhyaiḥ
vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśhanti
danṣhṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni
kechid vilagnā daśhanāntareṣhu
sandṛiśhyante chūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ
amī — these;
cha — and;
tvām — you;
dhṛitarāśhtrasya — of Dhritarashtra;
putrāḥ — sons;
sarve — all;
saha — with;
eva — even;
avani-pāla — their allied kings;
sanghaiḥ — assembly;
bhīṣhmaḥ — Bheeshma;
droṇaḥ — Dronacharya;
sūta-putraḥ — Karna;
tathā — and also;
asau — this;
saha — with;
asmadīyaiḥ — from our side;
api — also;
yodha-mukhyaiḥ — generals;
vaktrāṇi — mouths;
te — your;
tvaramāṇāḥ — rushing;
viśhanti — enter;
danṣhṭrā — teeth;
karālāni — terrible;
bhayānakāni — fearsome;
kechit — some;
vilagnāḥ — getting stuck;
daśhana-antareṣhu — between the teeth;
sandṛiśhyante — are seen;
chūrṇitaiḥ — getting smashed;
uttama-aṅgaiḥ — heads
In this verse, Arjuna is experiencing a very troubling and terrifying vision while looking at Krishna's universal form. He sees not only the sons of Dhritarashtra, who are his opponents in the battle, but also many kings and great warriors from both sides of the conflict. Among those he sees are Bhishma and Dronacharya, who are known for their strength and skills in warfare, as well as Karna, another formidable warrior.
The imagery presented is quite chilling. Arjuna is witnessing these powerful warriors rushing into the mouths of Krishna's universal form, which is much like a powerful and terrifying force of nature. This indicates to Arjuna that even the mightiest in battle, the ones he fears and respects, are not going to survive this fight. They are being consumed by something immense and unstoppable.
The presence of Bhishma is significant because he is considered nearly unbeatable due to his strength and wisdom. Seeing him in such a vulnerable position adds to the gravity of the situation. It's a clear sign that no one, regardless of their power, can escape their fate. This shocking realisation hits Arjuna hard, marking the unavoidable destruction that will occur in the battle.
Moreover, this vision serves as a reminder of Krishna's teachings about the cycle of life and death, and that all living beings must eventually face their end. The fact that even those he is close to and considers allies, alongside his enemies, are facing this doom reinforces the inevitability of what is to come. It highlights that the battle, while a physical confrontation, also represents the larger forces at play in life—fate, destiny, and the greater plan that is beyond individual control.
Arjuna is grappling with the emotional weight of seeing his companions, mentors, and respected foes facing their demise, which makes him question everything about the fight and the purpose behind it. It’s a pivotal moment that combines his fears, the reality of war, and the divine role Krishna plays as he navigates through this complex situation.