Shloka 21
Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam
Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32
सासिर्बाहुर्निपतित: शिरश्छिन्न॑ं सकुण्डलम्
sāsirbāhur nipatitaḥ śiraś chinnaṃ sakuṇḍalam
संजय बोले—हाथ में तलवार लिए, बाँह फैलाए वह गिर पड़ा; उसका कटा हुआ सिर भी कुण्डलों सहित लुढ़क गया। रणभूमि में मृत्यु के सामने न शौर्य का मान रहता है, न भूषण का।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the impermanence of bodily power and worldly adornment: in war, even the mighty fall, and external marks of status (like ornaments) cannot shield one from the consequences of violence and mortality.
Sañjaya describes a warrior being struck down in combat: he collapses with sword and arm, and his head is severed and falls, still wearing earrings—an image emphasizing the ferocity and decisive lethality of the battle.