Shloka 21
भीष्म-पर्व अध्याय १०० — त्रिगर्त-आक्रमण, भीष्म-केन्द्रित पुनर्संयोजन, तथा शक्त्यस्त्र-विनिमय
उसने शिरीषपुष्प एवं सुवर्णके समान पीतवर्णका बहुमूल्य सुगन्धित चन्दन लगा रखा था
sa śirīṣapuṣpasuvarṇakasamaṃ pītavarṇaṃ bahumūlyaṃ sugandhi candanaṃ liptaḥ
Karna dijo que estaba ungido con pasta de sándalo fragante—costosa, de tono amarillo dorado como el oro y delicada como la flor del śirīṣa—señal de refinado esplendor.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line highlights how external signs of refinement—perfume, costly adornment, and golden radiance—can accompany a life entangled in conflict; it invites reflection on the difference between outward prestige and inner dharma, especially in a war setting.
In Karna’s speech, a person is described as being anointed with expensive, fragrant sandalwood paste, golden-yellow like the śirīṣa blossom—an image used to convey noble appearance and elevated status amid the unfolding martial narrative.