Shloka 28
भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas
प्रपतन्त सम वीरास्ते विरेजुर्भरतर्षभ । वसन्ते पुष्पशबलाश्षूता: प्रपतिता इव,भरतश्रेष्ठ) वे सभी वीर वहाँ गिरकर वसन्त-ऋतुमें धराशायी हुए पुष्पयुक्त आम्रवृक्षोंकी भाँति सुशोभित हो रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca |
prapatanta sama vīrās te virejur bharatarṣabha |
vasante puṣpaśabalāḥ śūtāḥ prapatitā iva ||
Sañjaya said: O bull among the Bharatas, those warriors, falling down together on the battlefield, still appeared splendid—like mango trees in spring, variegated with blossoms, that have been felled and lie upon the earth. The verse underscores the tragic dignity of valor in war: even in collapse, the signs of life’s former beauty remain, inviting reflection on the cost of conflict and the impermanence of embodied glory.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the poignancy of war: even as warriors fall, their valor and former splendor are remembered. It invites ethical reflection on the cost of violence and the fleeting nature of worldly glory, while acknowledging the kṣatriya ideal of courage.
Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield scene where many warriors have fallen together. Despite being slain, they appear striking—compared to blossom-laden mango trees in spring that have been cut down and lie on the ground.