Shloka 14
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
सुस्त्राव रुधिरं गात्रैगैरिकं पर्वतो यथा । महाराज! उन महारथियोंद्वारा अत्यन्त घायल कर दिये जानेपर राजा शल्य अपने अंगोंसे रक्तकी धारा बहाने लगे, मानो पर्वत गेरु-मिश्रित जलका झरना बहा रहा हो ।। १३ * तांश्व॒ सर्वान् महेष्वासान् पञ्चभि: पञ्चभि: शरै:
su-strāva rudhiraṃ gātrair gaerikaṃ parvato yathā | mahārāja! un mahārathībhir atyantaṃ ghālayitvā rājā śalyaḥ svāṅgair rudhira-dhārāḥ prasrāvayām āsa, yathā parvataḥ gaerika-miśrita-jalaṃ jharam iva muñcati ||
サンジャヤは言った。「大王よ、あの強大な車戦士たちに甚だしく傷つけられるや、シャリヤ王の四肢からは血が流れ出し、まるで赭土に染まった水を山が滝となして放つかのようであった。」この比喩は戦の苛烈な代価を示す。武威も位階も、暴力が肉体にもたらす帰結からは守れず、戦場は王すらも苦しむ血肉へと引き下ろすのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of war: even the greatest warriors and kings are subject to pain and bodily ruin. The ethical undertone is a sobering reminder that martial glory is inseparable from suffering and loss, urging reflection on the human cost behind kṣatriya valor.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that King Śalya has been severely wounded by powerful chariot-warriors. Blood streams from Śalya’s limbs, compared poetically to a mountain sending down a reddish, ochre-tinted cascade.