Shloka 20
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
स विचर्मा महाराज खड्गपाणिरुपाद्रवत् । कृपस्य वशमापत्नो मृत्योरास्यमिवातुर:,महाराज! जैसे रोगी मौतके मुँहमें पहुँच गया हो, उसी प्रकार कृपाचार्यके वशमें पड़ा हुआ शिखण्डी अपनी ढाल कट जानेपर केवल तलवार हाथमें लिये उनकी ओर दौड़ा
sa vicarmā mahārāja khaḍgapāṇir upādravat | kṛpasya vaśam āpanno mṛtyor āsyam ivāturaḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った。「大王よ、シカンディンは盾を断ち切られ、剣を手にして突進した。クリパの制圧下に落ち、まるで死の口に至った病人のように、なりふり構わず攻めかかった。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tragic momentum of war: courage can persist even when one is disadvantaged, but bravery without protection or strategic advantage may become a rush toward death. The simile of a sick man entering Death’s mouth stresses human vulnerability and the moral bleakness of battlefield inevitability.
Śikhaṇḍin’s shield has been cut down; he continues the fight with only a sword in hand and charges toward Kṛpācārya. Sañjaya describes Śikhaṇḍin as being under Kṛpa’s dominance, likening his advance to a doomed, helpless approach to Death itself.