Shloka 26
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय २७: सुशर्माह्वानम्, अर्जुनस्य प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, भगदत्तेन गजप्रहारः
जज्वालालंकृता सेना पत्रिभि: प्राणिभोजनै: । नानारूपैस्तदामित्रान् क्रुद्धे निध्नति फाल्गुने,जब क्रोधमें भरे हुए अर्जुन नाना प्रकारके प्राणनाशक बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुओंका नाश करने लगे, उस समय आशभूषणोंसे विभूषित हुई संशप्तकोंकी सारी सेना जलने लगी
sañjaya uvāca | jajvāla-alaṅkṛtā senā patribhiḥ prāṇi-bhojanaiḥ | nānā-rūpais tadāmitrān kruddho nighnati phālgune ||
Sañjaya said: Then the Saṁsaptaka host, adorned with blazing splendour, seemed to burn as Arjuna (Phālguna), inflamed with wrath, struck down the enemy with many kinds of life-devouring, feathered arrows. The scene underscores how anger, once unleashed in war, turns martial brilliance into a consuming fire that destroys lives without distinction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames wrath in battle as a consuming force: even an army ‘adorned’ with splendour becomes as if it is burning when violence intensifies. It hints at the ethical tension in kṣatriya warfare—duty-driven combat can still be morally perilous when fueled by uncontrolled anger.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna, enraged, cutting down enemies with many kinds of deadly, feathered arrows. The Saṁsaptaka forces, facing this onslaught, are portrayed as blazing or burning—an image for the devastation spreading through their ranks.