Shloka 21
स विद्धो बहुभिर्बाणैनीलाज्जनचयोपम: । शुशुभे सर्वतो राजन् प्रफुल्ल इव किंशुक:
sa viddho bahubhir bāṇair nīlāñjanacayopamaḥ | śuśubhe sarvato rājan praphulla iva kiṃśukaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Struck by many arrows, he—dark as a heap of blue collyrium—still shone on every side, O King, like a kiṃśuka tree in full bloom. The verse underscores a grim battlefield paradox: even amid grievous wounds, a warrior’s steadfast presence can appear radiant, revealing how courage and resolve are praised in war despite the suffering it entails.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension in war: valor and steadfastness are admired even when they arise amid violence and pain. It reflects the kṣatriya ideal of enduring wounds without losing composure, while implicitly reminding the listener of the tragic cost of such glory.
Sañjaya describes a warrior on the battlefield who has been pierced by many arrows. Despite being wounded and darkened in appearance, he still looks striking—compared to a kiṃśuka tree blazing with blossoms—emphasizing the dramatic, almost aestheticized spectacle of combat.