Shloka 356
अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च
Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents
शरीराणि व्यदृश्यन्त निहतानां महीतले । वहाँ मारे गये राजाओंके सुन्दर हारोंसे सुशोभित, उत्तम वस्त्रोंसे सम्पन्न तथा चन्दनसे चर्चित शरीर पृथ्वीपर पड़े देखे जाते थे
śarīrāṇi vyadṛśyanta nihatānāṁ mahītale |
Sañjaya said: Upon the face of the earth were seen the bodies of the slain—fallen on the battlefield, their forms still adorned with fine garlands and ornaments, clothed in excellent garments, and anointed with sandalwood paste. The sight revealed the tragic irony of war: royal splendor and worldly refinement cannot shield anyone from death, and the field of dharma stands as a stark witness to the impermanence of power and pride.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the impermanence of worldly glory: even kings adorned with luxury fall to death. Ethically, it invites reflection on pride, attachment, and the grave cost of war, reminding the listener that dharma must be weighed against the suffering it entails.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he sees on the battlefield: the slain lie on the earth, still bearing signs of royal refinement—ornaments, fine clothing, and sandalwood—now rendered powerless in death.