Shloka 123
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
बाणाहतास्तूर्णमपेतसत्त्वा विष्ट भ्य गात्राणि निपेतुरुव्याम् । ऐन्द्रेण तेनास्त्रवरेण राजन् महाहवे भिन्नतनुत्रदेहा:,युद्धके मुहानेपर जिनके यन्त्र कट गये और इन्द्रकील नष्ट हो गये थे, ऐसे बड़े-बड़े ध्वज छिन्न-भिन्न होकर गिरने लगे। उस संग्राममें अर्जुनके बाणोंसे घायल पैदलोंके समूह, रथी, घोड़े और हाथी शीघ्र ही सत्त्वशून्य होकर अपने अंगोंको पकड़े हुए पृथ्वीपर गिरने लगे। राजन्! उस महान ऐन्द्रास्त्रसे समरभूमिमें सभी सैनिकोंके शरीर और कवच छिज्न- भिन्न हो गये
sañjaya uvāca |
bāṇāhatās tūrṇam apetasattvā viṣṭabhya gātrāṇi nipetur uvyām |
aindreṇa tenāstravareṇa rājan mahāhave bhinnatanu-tradehāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Struck by arrows, they quickly lost their strength and, clutching at their limbs, fell upon the earth. O King, in that great battle, by that supreme Indra-born missile, the bodies and protective armours of the warriors were shattered and torn apart—so overwhelming was its force that it broke resistance and laid men low in heaps, displaying the terrible cost of war even amid feats of martial prowess.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grave consequence of warfare: even when martial skill and divine weapons prevail, the immediate result is the shattering of bodies and protections. It implicitly invites reflection on kṣatriya duty versus the human cost that dharma must account for.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that warriors, struck by arrows, rapidly lose strength and collapse on the ground. A powerful ‘Aindra’ missile-weapon is described as tearing apart bodies and armour across the great battle.