Shloka 8
अध्याय ९ — दुर्योधनस्य अन्त्यावस्था, विलापः, तथा सौप्तिक-प्रतिवृत्तम्
Duryodhana’s Final Condition, Lamentation, and the Night’s Report
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत सौप्तिकपर्वमें रात्रियुद्धके प्रसंगमें पांचाल आदिका वधविषयक आठवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,शुशुभे स वृतो राजा वेदी त्रिभिरिवाग्निभि: | वे तीनों महारथी वीर खूनसे रँग गये थे और लंबी साँसें खींच रहे थे। उनसे घिरा हुआ राजा दुर्योधन तीन अग्नियोंसे घिरी हुई वेदीके समान सुशोभित हो रहा था ।। ते तं शयानं सम्प्रेक्ष्य राजानमतथोचितम्
śuśubhe sa vṛto rājā vedī tribhir ivāgnibhiḥ | te trayo mahārathā vīrā rudhireṇa rañjitā dīrghān niśvāsān muñcantaḥ | tair ghṛtaḥ rājā duryodhanaḥ tribhir agnibhiḥ parivṛtāyā vedyā iva suśobhanaḥ || te taṃ śayānaṃ samprekṣya rājānam atathocitam |
Sañjaya said: Surrounded by those three fires, the king shone like a sacrificial altar encircled by three blazing flames. The three great chariot-warriors, their bodies stained with blood and their breath coming in long, heavy gasps, stood around him; and Duryodhana, lying there, appeared splendid in that grim circle—like an altar ringed by three fires. Seeing the king lying thus, in a condition unbefitting his station, they looked upon him with grave attention.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the bitter irony of martial ‘splendor’: royal majesty appears like a ritual altar’s radiance, yet it is framed by blood, exhaustion, and a king lying helpless. It implicitly critiques glory founded on violence and points to the fragility of power and status.
After the night-battle context, three great warriors—bloodied and breathing heavily—stand around the fallen Duryodhana. Sañjaya describes Duryodhana’s appearance through a vivid simile: like an altar surrounded by three fires, while they look upon the king lying in an unbefitting condition.