Shloka 51
कार्मुकं भ्रामयामास हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम् । (तदस्य भ्राजते राजन् मेघमध्ये तडिद् यथा ।।) महाराज! प्रतापी द्रोणने युद्धस्थलमें उन राजकुमारोंका वध करके सुवर्णमय पृष्ठभागवाले दुर्जय धनुषको घुमाना आरम्भ किया। राजन! उस समय वह धनुष मेघोंकी घटामें बिजलीके समान प्रकाशित हो रहा था ।। ५० $ ।। पज्चालान् निहतान् दृष्टवा देवकल्पान् महारथान्,देवताओंके समान तेजस्वी पांचाल महारथियोंको मारा गया देख धृष्टद्युम्न अत्यन्त उद्विग्न हो नेत्रोंसे आँसू बहाते हुए कुपित हो उठे और संग्रामभूमिमें द्रोणाचार्यके रथकी ओर बढ़े
sañjaya uvāca |
kārmukaṃ bhrāmayāmāsa hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam |
tadasya bhrājate rājan meghamadhye taḍid yathā ||
Sanjaya said: After slaying those princely warriors on the battlefield, the mighty Droṇa began to whirl his bow—hard to withstand, with a back plated in gold. O King, at that moment that bow shone in the midst of the clouds like a flash of lightning. The image underscores the terrifying splendor of martial prowess: brilliance and victory appear dazzling, yet they arise from the grim work of killing in war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of war: extraordinary brilliance and heroic display can be inseparable from destruction. It invites ethical reflection on how martial glory (shining like lightning) is produced by lethal action, and how power can dazzle even as it deepens suffering.
Sanjaya describes Droṇa, after killing princely warriors, whirling his gold-backed bow. The bow’s radiance is compared to lightning within clouds, emphasizing Droṇa’s overwhelming presence on the battlefield.