तत्राद्भुतम् अपश्याम कृत्स्नाम् अक्षौहिणीं हताम् ॥
अनभिज्ञेयरूपां च प्रदग्धाम् अस्त्रमायया ॥
ततो वीरौ महेष्वासौ विमुक्तौ केशवार्जुनौ ॥
सहितौ संप्रदृश्येतां नभसीव तमोनुदौ ॥
सपताकध्वजहयः सानुकर्षवरायुधः ॥
प्रबभौ स रथो मुक्तस् तावकानां भयंकरः ॥
tatrādbhutam apaśyāma kṛtsnām akṣauhiṇīṃ hatām ||
anabhijñeyarūpāṃ ca pradagdhām astramāyayā ||
tato vīrau maheṣvāsau vimuktau keśavārjunau ||
sahitau saṃpradṛśyetāṃ nabhasīva tamonudau ||
sapatākadhvajahayaḥ sānukarṣavarāyudhaḥ ||
prababhau sa ratho muktas tāvakānāṃ bhayaṃkaraḥ ||
There we beheld a wonder — a whole akshauhini slain, of unrecognizable form, scorched by the sorcery of weapons. Then the two heroes, the great archers, delivered — Keshava and Arjuna — appeared together, like [the sun and moon] in the sky dispelling darkness. With banners, standard, horses, with excellent weapons, that chariot shone, delivered, striking fear into your warriors.
b1ca37356e2d · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:12:46 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Amid the ashes of a whole akshauhini, Krishna and Arjuna appear unharmed, like luminaries dispelling darkness. The contrast is telling: all around lie unrecognizable remains, while the two invulnerable ones shine — the highest is not subject to fire. The verse teaches that something exists over which no destruction holds power; and the appearance of the unharmed amid universal ruin foreshadows a revelation — a mystery Vyasa is soon to disclose.