Shloka 22
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
देवपुत्रसमा: सर्वे शौर्ये शक्रसमा युधि । ऋचछ्या वैश्रव्ं चाति नयेन च बृहस्पतिम्,प्रजानाथ! कितने ही रथी रथोंसे हीन हो गये थे। वे कवच, कुण्डल और पगड़ी धारण किये बड़े तेजस्वी दिखायी देते थे। उन सबने कण्ठमें स्वर्णमय पदक और भुजाओंमें बाजूबंद धारण कर रखे थे। वे देखनेमें देवकुमारोंके समान सुन्दर और युद्धमें इन्द्रके समान शौर्यसम्पन्न थे। वे समृद्धिमें कुबेर और नीतिज्ञतामें बृहस्पतिजीसे भी बढ़कर थे। ऐसे सर्वलोकेश्वर शूरवीर भी रथहीन हो गँवार मनुष्योंकी भाँति जहाँ-तहाँ भागते दिखायी देते थे
devaputrasamāḥ sarve śaurye śakrasamā yudhi | ṛcchayā vaiśravaṇaṃ cāti nītena ca bṛhaspatim prajānātha |
Sañjaya said: “All of them looked like sons of the gods—radiant and splendid. In battle their valor matched Indra’s; in prosperity they rivaled Kubera; and in statecraft they even surpassed Bṛhaspati. Yet, O lord of men, by the turn of fate many great chariot-warriors were left without their chariots, and those very heroes—adorned with armor, earrings, and headgear, wearing golden neck-ornaments and armlets—were seen fleeing here and there like ordinary, bewildered men.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most splendid and capable—godlike in beauty, wealth, and counsel—can be reduced by the reversals of war and fate. The verse underscores impermanence and the humbling power of circumstance, warning rulers not to rely on pride in power or status.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that many renowned chariot-warriors, though richly adorned and famed for valor and wisdom, have lost their chariots amid the chaos of battle and are seen running about in confusion like ordinary men.