Shloka 156
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
विकटश्न समश्नोभौ देवपुत्रोपमौ नृप । नरेश्वर! वे दोनों थे विकट (विकटानन) और सम। देवपुत्रोंके समान सुशोभित होनेवाले वे दोनों वीर आँधीके उखाड़े हुए दो वृक्षोंके समान पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
sañjaya uvāca |
vikaṭaś ca samaś ca ubhau devaputropamau nṛpa |
nareśvara! tau dvau vīrau āndhyāyāḥ ukhāḍitau dvau vṛkṣāv iva pṛthivyāṃ nipetatuḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: «O König, jene beiden Helden — Vikaṭa und Sama — strahlend wie Söhne der Götter, stürzten zur Erde wie zwei Bäume, die ein wütender Sturm aus dem Boden gerissen hat.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights impermanence and the leveling power of war: even warriors who appear godlike in splendor can be felled suddenly, like uprooted trees. It invites reflection on the limits of strength and the inevitability of death amid kṣatriya conflict.
Sañjaya reports to the king that two warriors named Vikaṭa and Sama have been struck down in battle. Their fall is compared to two trees ripped from the ground by a fierce storm, emphasizing the violence and finality of the moment.