Shloka 49
भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas
जातरूपमयै: पुड्खै राजतैर्निशिता: शरा: । तैलधौता व्यराजन्त निर्मुक्तभुजगोपमा:,सोने अथवा चाँदीके पंखोंसे युक्त तथा तेलके धोये हुए तीखे बाण केचुल छोड़कर निकले हुए सर्पोंके समान सुशोभित होते थे
sañjaya uvāca |
jātarūpamayaḥ puṅkhai rajatair niśitāḥ śarāḥ |
tailadhautā vyarājanta nirmuktabhujagopamāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The sharp arrows, fitted with fletchings of gold and silver and cleansed with oil, shone brilliantly—like snakes released from bondage. In the ethical atmosphere of the war, the verse underscores how human skill and royal wealth are harnessed to instruments of destruction, making the battlefield both dazzling and ominous.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of war: refinement, wealth, and craftsmanship can make weapons appear beautiful, yet their purpose remains lethal. It invites reflection on how outward splendor can mask destructive intent, a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata’s war narrative.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield armaments: sharp arrows with gold and silver fletchings, polished with oil, gleaming as they are readied or released—compared to freed serpents to convey speed, menace, and living-like motion.