Shloka 153
महाधनैराभरणैश्न दिव्यै: शस्त्रैश्न दीप्तैरपि सम्पतद्धिः । रातके समय अग्निकी प्रभासे वह सेना पुनः विभागपूर्वक प्रकाशित हो उठी। बहुमूल्य आभूषणों तथा सैनिकोंपर गिरनेवाले दीप्तिमान् दिव्यास्त्रोंस भी वह सेना बड़ी शोभा पा रही थी
sañjaya uvāca |
mahādhanair ābharaṇaiś ca divyaiḥ śastraiś ca dīptair api sampatadbhiḥ |
rātrau samaye 'gnikī prabhāse sā senā punaḥ vibhāga-pūrvakaṃ prakāśitābhavat |
bahumūlyābharaṇaiś ca sainikeṣu patadbhiḥ dīptimad-divyāstraiś ca sā senā mahāśobham avāpa |
Sañjaya said: In the night-time, by the glow of the fires, that army once again became clearly visible in ordered divisions. Adorned with costly ornaments, and also struck upon by blazing, divine missiles and shining weapons, the host appeared all the more resplendent—an image of war’s terrible splendour, where outward brilliance accompanies inner destruction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of war: even amid destruction, the battlefield can appear dazzling through wealth, ornaments, and the radiance of weapons. Ethically, it cautions that external splendour can mask suffering and moral cost, reminding the listener to judge actions by their consequences rather than their spectacle.
Sañjaya narrates a night scene in the Drona Parva: by the light of fires the army becomes visible again in organized formations. The host looks splendid due to expensive ornaments and the blazing descent/impact of divine missiles and shining weapons striking among the soldiers.