Shloka 23
द्रोणपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 15): युधिष्ठिर-रक्षा तथा अर्जुनस्य शरवृष्टिः
ततो गदाग्राभिहतौ क्षणेन रुधिरोक्षितौ | ददृशाते महात्मानौ किंशुकाविव पुष्पितौ
tato gadāgrābhihatau kṣaṇena rudhirokṣitau | dadṛśāte mahātmānau kiṃśukāv iva puṣpitau ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces, en un solo instante, heridos por la parte delantera de la maza, aquellos dos guerreros de gran alma fueron vistos empapados en sangre, semejantes a dos árboles kiṃśuka (palāśa) en plena floración. El verso subraya la ironía sombría de la guerra: lo que parece “belleza florecida” es, en verdad, el rojo vivo de la sangre derramada.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of warfare: the battlefield can aestheticize violence through poetic imagery (blood-red like blossoms), yet the underlying reality is injury and suffering. It cautions against confusing outward splendor of valor with the ethical cost of harm.
Two eminent warriors are struck by the tip/forepart of a mace and, in a moment, become covered in blood. Observers see them as resembling two kiṃśuka (palāśa) trees in bloom because of the vivid red coloration.