Shloka 19
द्रोणपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 15): युधिष्ठिर-रक्षा तथा अर्जुनस्य शरवृष्टिः
गदा क्षिप्ता तु समरे मद्रराजेन भारत | व्योम दीपयमाना सा ससूजे पावकं मुहुः,भारत! तब मद्रराज शल्यने समरभूमिमें दूसरी गदा चलायी, जो आकाशको प्रकाशित करती हुई बारंबार अंगारोंकी वर्षा कर रही थी
gadā kṣiptā tu samare madrarājena bhārata | vyoma dīpayamānā sā sasūje pāvakaṃ muhuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, in the thick of battle the king of Madra hurled a mace. As it blazed through the sky, it lit up the firmament and again and again seemed to shower sparks like fire—an image of the war’s fierce, consuming power and the warriors’ relentless resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the consuming intensity of war: weapons become like fire in the sky, suggesting how martial prowess and anger can blaze beyond control. Implicitly, it frames kṣatriya action as relentless and forceful, while also reminding the listener of war’s destructive, fire-like nature.
Sañjaya describes Śalya, the king of Madra, hurling a mace in battle. The mace appears to illuminate the sky and repeatedly emit sparks, emphasizing the ferocity and spectacle of the combat.