Shloka 17
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
विनिर्भिन्ना: शरै: केचिदन्त्रापीडप्रकर्षिण: । अभीता: समरे शत्रूनभ्यधावन्त दर्पिता:,कुछ वीर बाणोंसे विदीर्ण होकर आँतोंमें उठनेवाली पीड़ासे अत्यन्त कष्ट पानेपर भी समरभूमिमें निर्भय तथा दर्पयुक्त भावसे शत्रुओंकी ओर दौड़ रहे थे
vinirbhinnāḥ śaraiḥ kecid antrāpīḍa-prakarṣiṇaḥ | abhītāḥ samare śatrūn abhyadhāvanta darpitāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Though some were torn open by arrows and racked by agonizing pain that seemed to wrench at their entrails, they still rushed upon the enemy in the thick of battle—fearless, and driven by proud martial ardor. The verse underscores the grim valor of warriors who, even amid extreme bodily suffering, refuse to yield on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield courage and the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness: even when the body is shattered by pain, a warrior may continue to act with resolve. It also implicitly warns that such fearlessness can be fueled not only by duty but by darpa (pride), which is ethically ambivalent.
Sañjaya describes the intensity of the fighting: some combatants, pierced and torn by arrows and suffering severe internal pain, nevertheless charge straight at their enemies, undeterred and full of martial pride.