Shloka 50
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Arjuna’s defeat of Vṛṣaka–Acalā and the neutralization of Śakuni’s māyā
स हेममाली तपनीयभाण्डात् पपात नागाद् गिरिसंनिकाशात् | सुपुष्पितो मारुतवेगरुग्णो महीधराग्रादिव कर्णिकार:,सोनेके आभूषणोंसे विभूषित उस पर्वताकार हाथीसे सुवर्णमालाधारी भगदत्त पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े, मानो सुन्दर पुष्पोंसे सुशोभित कनेरका वृक्ष हवाके वेगसे टूटकर पर्वतके शिखरसे नीचे गिर पड़ा हो
sa hemamālī tapanīyabhāṇḍāt papāta nāgād girisaṃnikāśāt | supuṣpito mārutavegarugṇo mahīdharāgrādiva karṇikāraḥ ||
Berhiaskan kalung emas, Bhagadatta jatuh ke bumi dari gajahnya yang laksana gunung, berselubung perlengkapan emas—bagaikan pohon karṇikāra yang sedang berbunga lebat, dipatahkan oleh hempasan angin, lalu terjungkal dari puncak pegunungan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the transience of power and splendor in war: outward magnificence—gold ornaments, a mighty elephant—cannot prevent sudden downfall. It invites reflection on impermanence and the fragility of worldly status amid adharma-driven violence.
Sañjaya describes Bhagadatta, adorned with a golden garland, falling from his mountain-like, gold-caparisoned elephant to the ground. The fall is compared to a flowering karṇikāra tree broken by strong wind and dropping from a mountain summit.