Shloka 23
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
कबन्धशतसंकीर्ण छत्रचामरसंकुलम् । सेनावनं तच्छुशुभे वन॑ पुष्पाचितं यथा
kabandhaśatasaṅkīrṇaṃ chatracāmarasaṅkulam | senāvanaṃ tac chuśubhe vanaṃ puṣpācitaṃ yathā ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—শত শত কবন্ধে ভৰা আৰু ছত্ৰ-চামৰেৰে গিজগিজাই থকা সেই সেনা-ৰূপী বন অদ্ভুতভাৱে শোভা পাইছিল—যেন পুষ্পেৰে আচ্ছাদিত কোনো অৰণ্য।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral paradox of war: outward splendor (royal umbrellas and ceremonial fans) can aesthetically ‘beautify’ a scene that is ethically horrific, reminding the listener not to confuse appearance with righteousness.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the appearance of the battlefield: it is littered with numerous headless bodies, yet crowded with royal insignia like parasols and cāmaras, making the army’s field look like a flower-strewn forest.