Shloka 203
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
रुक्मपुड्खै: शरैश्छिन्नाश्चित्ररूपा बभुस्तदा । राजन! उन दोनोंके वे रथ, वे घोड़े और वे सारथि सुवर्णमय पंखवाले बाणोंसे क्षत- विक्षत होकर उस समय विचित्ररूपसे सुशोभित हो रहे थे
rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śaraiś chinnāś citrarūpā babhūs tadā | rājan! ubhayos te rathās te hayās te sārathayaś ca suvarṇamaya-puṅkhavālair bāṇaiḥ kṣata-vikṣatāḥ san tadā vicitrarūpeṇa suśobhitā babhūvuḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、その時、金の矢柄をもつ矢により彼らの戦車も馬も御者も切り裂かれ、傷だらけとなって、奇妙に斑な輝きを帯びて見えた。暴虐から生まれた不穏な美であり、戦の器そのものが傷を飾りとしてまとうかのようであった。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension of war: even grievous injury can appear 'ornamental' in the spectacle of battle, reminding the listener that martial glory often masks suffering and destruction.
Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra how the combatants’ chariots, horses, and charioteers are cut and mangled by golden-fletched arrows, yet appear visually striking—an image of battlefield intensity and damage.