Shloka 173
Droṇa Encircled at Night: Coalition Advance and Battlefield Omens (द्रोणपर्यावरणं रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
विबभौ सर्वतः श्लिष्टं सविद्युदिव तोयद: । उनका काले लोहेका बना हुआ सुवर्णजटित बहुमूल्य कवच उनके सारे अंगोंमें सटकर बिजलीसहित मेघके समान सुशोभित हो रहा था
vibabhau sarvataḥ śliṣṭaṃ savidyud iva toyadaḥ |
Sañjaya said: The splendid, close-fitting armour clung to his entire body and shone on every side—like a rain-cloud lit up with lightning. In the midst of war’s terror, the image underscores both the warrior’s formidable presence and the moral weight of martial duty: outward brilliance and protection stand beside the inner peril and accountability of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile—armour shining like a lightning-lit cloud—to highlight how martial power and splendour can appear awe-inspiring, yet remain bound to the ethical gravity of warfare and the responsibilities of kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya describes a warrior’s close-fitting, radiant armour, emphasizing his striking battlefield appearance through the comparison to a thundercloud streaked with lightning.