Shloka 27
Bhīṣma’s Fall, the Arrow-bed (śara-talpa), and the Establishment of Guard
प्रासाश्ष विमलास्तीक्ष्णा: शक््त्यश्ष॒ कनकोज्ज्वला: । वैजयन्त्यश्न नागानां संक्रुद्धेन किरीटिना
prāsāś ca vimalās tīkṣṇāḥ śaktyaś ca kanakojjvalāḥ | vaijayantyaś ca nāgānāṃ saṃkruddhena kirīṭinā chidyante ||
サンジャヤは言った。光り輝く鋭き槍、清らかで切っ先鋭い投槍――黄金にきらめくそれら――さらに象上に翻るヴァイジャヤンティーの旗までも、怒りに燃える冠戴のアルジュナによって斬り落とされ、粉々に砕かれていった。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of external symbols of power—golden weapons and victory-banners—when confronted by overwhelming martial force. Ethically, it points to how anger and war can rapidly dismantle pride and prestige, urging reflection on the costs of conflict and the impermanence of worldly dominance.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna, furious and wearing his diadem/helmet, cutting down the enemy’s spears and javelins and even severing the vaijayantī standards that fly on war-elephants—depicting Arjuna’s battlefield momentum and the disarray of the opposing forces.