Shloka 25

Devanagari script

विशालायतताम्राक्षै: पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननै: । एषा भू: कीर्यते राज्ञां शिरोभिरपलायिनाम्‌

Transliteration

viśālāyatataṃrākṣaiḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanaiḥ | eṣā bhūḥ kīryate rājñāṃ śirobhir apalāyinām ||

Translation

Dieses Schlachtfeld wird mit den abgeschlagenen Häuptern von Königen bestreut, die nicht aus dem Kampf flohen. Ihre Augen sind groß und gerötet, ihre Gesichter lieblich wie der Vollmond—doch nun liegen sie zerstreut, ein hartes Zeugnis für den schrecklichen Preis unbeugsamer Tapferkeit im Krieg.

Word by Word

• विशालायतताम्राक्षैः: with (those) having large, elongated, reddish eyes
• विशालायतताम्राक्षैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशालायतताम्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननैः: with (those) whose faces are like the full moon
• पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भूः: ground; earth; battlefield
• भूः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कीर्यते: is strewn/covered
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शिरोभिः: with heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अपलायिनाम्: of those who do not flee; non-retreating
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपलायिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• battlefield/earth (bhūḥ)
• severed heads (śiras)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim paradox of martial virtue: steadfastness and refusal to flee are praised in kṣatriya-dharma, yet war reduces even noble, moon-faced kings to severed heads on the ground. It invites reflection on the ethical weight and human cost of righteous combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna describes the battlefield after intense fighting: the ground is covered with the severed heads of kings who stood their ground and did not retreat, emphasizing both their valor and the horrific aftermath of battle.