Shloka 9
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
काउ्चनेषु तनुत्रेषु किरीटेषु ध्वजेषु च । शिलानामिव शैलेषु पतितानामभूद् ध्वनि:,जब सोनेके कवचों, किरीटों और ध्वजोंपर योद्धाओं-के अस्त्र-शस्त्र टकराते, तब उनसे पर्वतोंपर गिरकर टकरानेवाली शिलाओंके समान भयानक शब्द होता था
kavacaneṣu tanutreṣu kirīṭeṣu dhvajeṣu ca | śilānām iva śaileṣu patitānām abhūd dhvaniḥ ||
Sañjaya said: As weapons struck against the warriors’ armor, their protective gear, their crowns, and their standards, a dreadful roar arose—like the crash of rocks colliding after falling upon mountains—signaling the fierce, impersonal momentum of battle where pride and protection alike are tested.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the overwhelming force of war: even symbols of status (crowns, banners) and means of safety (armor) become mere surfaces for violent impact. It implicitly reminds the listener that external protections and pride are fragile amid the consequences of conflict, urging sobriety about the costs of kṣatriya warfare.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield at Kurukṣetra: weapons collide with armor, protective gear, helmets/crowns, and standards, producing a terrifying, mountain-like crashing sound—an auditory image conveying the intensity of the fighting.