Shloka 22
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
सवरूथै रथैर्भग्नै रथिभिक्ष निपातितै: । शरै: सुकवचैश्किन्नै: पट्टिशैश्व विशाम्पते,चापैश्वन बहुधा च्छिन्नैः समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी । माननीय प्रजानाथ! वरूथोंसहित टूटे हुए रथ, मारे गये रथी, कटे हुए बाण, कवच, पट्टिश, गदा, भिन्दिपाल, तीखे सायक, छित्न-भिन्न हुए अनुकर्ष, उपासंग, पहिये, कटी हुई बाँह, धनुष, खड़्ग, कुण्डलोंसहित मस्तक, तलत्राण, अंगुलित्राण, गिराये गये ध्वज और अनेक टुकड़ोंमें कटकर गिरे हुए चाप--इन सबके द्वारा वहाँकी पृथ्वी आच्छादित हो गयी थी
sa-varūthai rathair bhagnai rathibhiś ca nipātitaiḥ | śaraiḥ su-kavacaiś chinnaiḥ paṭṭiśaiś ca viśāṃpate, cāpaiś ca bahudhā chinnaiḥ samāstīryata medinī ||
Sañjaya said: O lord of men, the earth was strewn and covered with shattered chariots still bearing their protective frames, with fallen chariot-warriors, with arrows and fine cuirasses cut to pieces, with battle-axes, and with bows hacked apart in many ways. The field became a grim carpet of broken weapons and ruined defenses.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the stark cost of war: even the finest instruments of power—chariots, armor, and weapons—end as scattered fragments. It implicitly warns against pride in martial might and highlights the impermanent, ruinous aftermath that follows violence, even when framed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the battlefield has become covered with wrecked chariots, slain chariot-fighters, and severed weapons and armor. It is a panoramic description of the field after intense fighting, emphasizing the scale of carnage and material devastation.