Shloka 23
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
रुधिराक्तौ ततस्तौ तु शुशुभाते नरर्षभौ | वसनन््तसमये राजन् पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ,राजन्! उस समय वे दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ लहूलुहान होकर वसंत-ऋतुमें खिले हुए दो पलाश वृक्षोंकी भाँति अत्यन्त शोभा पाने लगे
rudhirāktau tatastau tu śuśubhāte nararṣabhau | vasantasamaye rājan puṣpitāv iva kiṃśukau ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, kemudian kedua pahlawan unggul itu, meski berlumur darah, tampak semakin cemerlang—laksana dua pohon kiṃśuka (palāśa) yang bermekaran pada musim semi.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a stark ethical tension: martial steadfastness and heroic splendor can persist even when one is grievously wounded. By likening blood-soaked warriors to spring-blossoming kiṃśuka trees, it highlights how war can aestheticize suffering—inviting reflection on kṣatriya duty and the heavy human cost behind celebrated valor.
Sañjaya describes two leading fighters on the battlefield who, though covered in blood from combat, appear striking and radiant. He conveys this through a vivid simile: they look like two kiṃśuka (palāśa) trees in spring, blazing with blossoms.