Shloka 40
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca
वर्मभिश्चर्मभिहरि: शिरोभिश्व॒ सकुण्डलै: । उष्णीषैर्मुकुटै: स्रग्भिश्वूडामणिभिरम्बरै:,भारत! चारों ओर गिरे हुए कवच, ढाल, हार, कुण्डलयुक्त मस्तक, पगड़ी, मुकुट, माला, चूड़ामणि, वस्त्र, कण्ठसूत्र, बाजूबंद, चमकीले निष्क एवं अन्यान्य विचित्र आभूषणोंसे इस रणभूमिकी बड़ी शोभा हो रही है
varmabhiś carmabhir hariḥ śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ | uṣṇīṣair mukuṭaiḥ sragbhiś cūḍāmaṇibhir ambaraiḥ, bhārata |
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “O Bhārata, all around, the battlefield is strewn with fallen armor and shields; with heads still bearing earrings; with turbans and crowns; with garlands, crest-jewels, and garments. By these scattered ornaments and war-gear, the field itself appears strangely adorned—beauty born from the terrible cost of battle.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of ‘splendor’ produced by destruction: ornaments and royal insignia scattered among the slain make the field look adorned, underscoring impermanence and the moral weight of war even when fought under kṣatriya-dharma.
Kṛṣṇa points out to the addressed Bhārata that the battlefield is covered with fallen armor, shields, severed heads with earrings, and scattered royal attire and jewels—an image of the battle’s intensity and its grim aftermath.