Shloka 743
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
निपतन्तो<भभ्यदृश्यन्त नगेभ्य इव पन्नगा: । वे तीखे बाण उस समय दैत्योंके शरीरोंको विदीर्ण कर रणभूमिमें इस प्रकार गिरते दिखायी देते थे, मानो वृक्षोंसे सर्प गिर रहे हों
nipatanto 'bhyadṛśyanta nagebhya iva pannagāḥ |
マールカンデーヤは語った。「彼らが落ちてゆくのが見えた——山から蛇が落ちるように。」戦の狂熱のただ中で、鋭い矢はダイティヤの身を裂き、戦士たちは戦場に崩れ落ちた。それは岩だらけの高みから蛇が滑り、墜ちてゆくさまを思わせた。この比喩は、戦がもつ容赦なく非情な力を示す。いかに強大であろうと、決定的な一撃を受ければ倒れるのである。
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark inevitability of downfall in warfare: strength and stature do not guarantee safety. It also exemplifies how epic poetry uses vivid similes to convey the moral gravity and emotional intensity of battle.
In Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration of a battle, combatants (contextually the daityas in the surrounding passage) are struck by sharp arrows and are seen collapsing on the battlefield, compared to snakes falling from mountains.